Patiala, August 31- People from all over Punjab gathered to mourn the death of Sardar Surjit Singh Kohli, the fearless leader who was the center of Akali politics in Patiala, former Punjab minister and father of Patiala MLA Ajitpal Singh Kohli. Thousands of people who reached there bid him a tearful farewell. People had already reached Bir Ji crematorium to have the last glimpse of their beloved leader.

The body of Sardar Surjit Singh Kohli was brought in a decorated truck, as soon as the truck entered the crematorium amid cheers, there was not enough space. The flood of devotees engulfed the entire crematorium. Sardar Kohli was cremated with full religious rituals and state honors. He was cremated by his sons and Patiala MLA Ajitpal Singh Kohli and Gurjit Singh Kohli.

On this occasion, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Deputy Commissioner Patiala Shaukat Ahmed Pare paid tribute by laying a wreath on the body of the deceased, while on behalf of the Punjab government, Cabinet Ministers Chetan Singh Jodmajra and Dr. Balbir Singh paid tribute by laying a wreath. On this occasion, the Patiala Police unit played the funeral tune and the jawans lowered their weapons and gave a guard of honor and saluted.

During this, Lok Sabha member Dr. Dharamvir Gandhi, Mandi Board Chairman Harchand Singh Burst, MLAs Kuljit Singh Randhawa, Neena Mittal, Gurdev Singh Dev Mann, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, his son Harjashan Singh Pathanmajra, ADGP AS Roy, DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar, SSP Dr. Nanak Singh, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Aditya Dechalwal also paid tribute by laying a wreath on the mortal remains.

According to family sources, the ritual of picking flowers and placing the ashes of late Sardar Kohli will be performed at 9 am on September 1 at the cremation ground of Bir Ji. The last prayers and tribute ceremony will be held on Friday, September 6 from 12 noon to 1.30 pm at the historic Gurdwara Patshahi 9 Shri Moti Bagh Sahib. Meanwhile, Information and Public Relations Minister Chetan Singh Joda Majra has expressed deep grief over the demise of former minister Surjit Singh Kohli and expressed condolences to MLA Ajitpal Singh Kohli and the entire family. He said that the demise of late Sardar Kohli has caused irreparable loss to the Kohli family. Joda Majra prayed to God to grant a place to the departed soul at his feet and give strength to the bereaved family to accept it. On this occasion, media director of the Chief Minister Baltej Pannu, AAP district president Tejinder Mehta, Jagdeep Singh Jagga, Preeti Malhotra, Kundan Gogia, former MP Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, former MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur, Sanjeev Bittu, Gurtej Singh Dhillon, Indermohan Singh Bajaj, Amarendra Singh Bajaj, Harvinder Singh Harpalpur, Rajneesh Shourie on behalf of former MP Preneet Kaur, Shiv Sena Hindustan president Pawan Gupta, Vijay Kapoor, Principal JP Singh, Kishan Chand Budhu, Shiromani Committee members Satwinder Singh Tohra, Jarnail Singh Kartarpur and Jasmer Singh Lachroo, Jagjit Singh Dardi, Hari Singh Tohra, Harvinder Singh Nippy, Lakhvir Singh Lot, Satvir Singh Khatra, Gursharan Kaur Randhawa, former DIG Gurpreet Singh Gill, Satnam Singh Kaler, former minister Nusrat Ali Khan, Brahmanand Giri from Hindu Takht and Swatantrata Pasi from Kali Mata Mandir were also present. On the occasion of the cremation, Giani Phula Singh and Giani Bhupinder Pal Singh recited Japuji Sahib and offered the last prayers.