SAD Leader and Former Union Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa Passes Away.

Obituary

In May 2025, veteran Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Union Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa passed away at the age of 89 in Mohali, Punjab. He was born on April 9, 1936, in Ubhawal village near Sangrur, Punjab.


      - Dhindsa was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honour, in 2019 for his notable contributions to Public Affairs.

      - However, he returned the award in 2020 as a gesture of solidarity with the Kisan Andolan (farmers' protest).

     

Main Point :-   (i) Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa began his political career in 1977, elected as an MLA from Sunam, Punjab, and held key portfolios such as Sports, Transport, and Education in Parkash Singh Badal’s government. He was also re-elected as MLA in 1980 and 1985.

      (ii) Dhindsa served as Vice-Chairman of the Punjab State Planning Commission and Chairman of the Punjab State Electricity Board before being elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1999.

(iii) He was Union Cabinet Minister for Sports, Chemicals, and Fertilisers (2000-2004) under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, elected to Lok Sabha from Sangrur in 2004, and later re-elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2010 and 2016, serving until 2022.

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