Akali stalwart remembered on 13th death anniversary

Hundreds of people, including politicians and members of the Sant Samaj, on Thursday paid tributes to former Akali legislator and stalwart Jasdev Singh Sandhu here on his 13th death anniversary.

Hundreds of people, including politicians and members of the Sant Samaj, on Thursday paid tributes to former Akali legislator and stalwart Jasdev Singh Sandhu here on his 13th death anniversary.

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Chief minister Prakash Singh Badal led the ceremony of paying floral tributes to Sandhu. He remembered Sandhu as an encyclopaedia on Panthic matters. Sandhu was elected five times to the assembly, representing different constituencies over that period.

"Sandhu stood up for weaker sections of society," said the CM, remembering the leader's role in the spread of education in the area. "The records and data on the history of Akali movement are not found in any library in the state," said Badal, to highlight that the achievments of Akali veterans were, thus, obscured.

Lauding the contribution of Sandhus family in Punjab's politics, Badal said the man was an institution in himself and had supported him in building his political career.

Addressing the gathering, Badal acknowledged the severity of the problem of drug addiction in the state. "It has become imperative to stop this menace now," he said. "I ask spiritual leaders to step forward in the war on social evils, and preach against drugs in their sermons."