AAP ex-MLA Jarnail Singh dies of Covid complications

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 14

Former AAP MLA from Rajouri Garden, Jarnail Singh, died on Friday morning of Covid-related complications.

He had been under intensive care at a super-speciality hospital here for over nine days, his family members said.

Singh had resigned from his seat in the Delhi assembly to contest the 2017 assembly polls in Punjab.

He contested the high-profile Lambi seat against Prakash Singh Badal and Capt Amarinder Singh.

Badal won the seat.

Jarnail, a former journalist, had quit his job after he hurled a shoe at then Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in March 2009.  

Singh a survivour of the 1984 anti-sikh riots, was a resident of Lajpat Nagar in Delhi.

He authored a book 'I accuse: The Anti-Sikh Violence of 1984' detailing several unknown aspects.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia also condoled the demise.

"Deeply saddened by the untimely demise of former Delhi MLA Sh Jarnail Singh ji. May God bless his soul. He will always be fondly remembered for his contributions to society," Kejriwal said in a tweet.

Deeply saddened by the untimely demise of former Delhi MLA Sh Jarnail Singh ji. May God bless his soul. He will always be fondly remembered for his contributions to society.

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 14, 2021

Sisodia remembered Singh as someone who fought for justice for the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

दिल्ली विधानसभा में अपने पूर्व साथी जरनैल सिंह के निधन का समाचार हम सबके लिए दुखद है. 1984 के नरसंहार के पीड़ित परिवारों के न्याय के लिए लड़ने वाली एक बुलंद आवाज़ हमारे बीच से चली गई. ईश्वर उन्हें अपने चरणों में जगह दे.

— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) May 14, 2021

"The news about the demise of Jarnail Singh, a former colleague in Delhi Assembly is extremely sad. A voice which fought for justice for the victims of 1984 genocide has left us," he said in a tweet in Hindi.

"My condolences to his family and followers in their hour of grief," tweeted Punjab Chief Minister. 

Saddened to learn of the passing away of former @AamAadmiParty MLA Jarnail Singh Ji. My condolences to his family and followers in their hour of grief. May God grant him eternal peace.

— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) May 14, 2021