Rajmata Mohinder Kaur no more

Patiala, July 24

Rajmata Mohinder Kaur (96), wife of the late Maharaja Yadavindra Singh and mother of Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh, breathed her last after a prolonged illness at 7.25 pm here today. She is survived by two sons and two daughters.

The cremation will take place at Shahi Samadhan at 2.15 pm on Tuesday. The funeral procession will start from Moti Bagh Palace at 12.45 pm. YPS, Patiala, will remain closed as a mark of respect.

Also read: Royal families start reaching Patiala for Mohinder Kaur’s funeral

The Rajmata, the last designated Queen of Patiala,  was unwell for the past few years and was hospitalised twice. As her condition worsened, she was admitted to the PGI, Chandigarh, a few months ago.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

A strong advocate of quality education, she believed education was important for building character and imbibing values, according to Khushwant Singh in the CM’s biography “The People’s Maharaja.” Former CM Parkash Singh Badal and SAD chief Sukhbir Badal expressed  sorrow over the demise. Badal,  who will be in Delhi for the swearing-in of RN Kovind as President, will reach Patiala for the cremation. 

“I fully realise what a tough moment it is for the family, especially you as the passing away of one’s mother leaves a deep void in one's life,” Badal said in his condolence message to the Chief Minister.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi vice-president Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders of the Congress called the CM to express their condolences. Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore, Speaker  Rana KP Singh, and several ministers, legislators among others have expressed grief.  The Cabinet meeting and other programmes scheduled for tomorrow stand cancelled. — TNS & PTI