Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa (89) died on Wednesday. He breathed his last at Fortis Hospital. He was ill for a long time. Dhindsa is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters.
Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa was admitted to Fortis Hospital, Mohali on 27 May 2025 in a critical condition. The hospital has said in its statement that he had pneumonia and complex heart problems, which were aggravated due to age-related diseases. Despite the best efforts by the team of specialist doctors of the hospital, he could not be saved due to cardiac arrest and heart failure at around 5:05 pm on May 28.
The last rites will be performed in village Ubhawal
Today at around 11 am, his body will be brought from Fortis Hospital to his house in Sector-2, Chandigarh, where people will be able to see him for the last time. Then tomorrow on May 30, at 8 am, the Sangat will be able to have his last darshan at his residence in Sangrur between 10:30 to 11:00 am from Chandigarh via Rajpura, Patiala, Bhawanigarh. At around 3 pm, the funeral procession will be from Sangrur to his native village Ubhawal district Sangrur.
He was the most senior leader after Prakash Singh Badal. His son Parminder Singh Dhindsa has also been the Finance Minister in the Punjab government. Last year, Dhindsa was given religious punishment by the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. He guarded the gate sitting on a wheelchair at the Golden Temple. Other leaders including PM Narendra Modi and CM Bhagwant Mann expressed grief over the demise of Dhindsa.
10 days religious punishment was given
Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa was given a 10-day religious punishment by Sri Akal Takht Sahib on 2 December 2024. Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim was sentenced for pardon, withdrawal of case and sacrilege. After this, on 3 and 4 December 2024, he guarded the gate of the Golden Temple while sitting on a wheelchair.
Between 5 and 14 December 2024, he served at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, Sri Muktsar Sahib. This included guarding and other services. Due to old age and health reasons, he was exempted from cleaning toilets.
