Punjab ex-minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan passes away at 71

Gurdaspur, October 6

Former SAD minister and AAP leader Sewa Singh Sekhwan, 71, passed away at his Mohali residence today after prolonged illness.

His close aide, Manjit Singh Dala, confirmed that Sekhwan had been indisposed for the past month. “He was diagnosed with a liver ailment and was being treated by top doctors,” said Dala. He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.

When Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal visited his residence to formally induct him in the AAP last month, it was with much difficulty that Sekhwan met him. He was one of the founding members of SAD (Taksali). He remained a two-time MLA from the erstwhile Assembly seat of Kahnuwan falling in this district.

Sekhwan served as education, revenue, rehabilitation and PR minister at various times in the Parkash Singh Badal Cabinet from 2007 till 2017. In 2009, he contested the bypoll from the Kahnuwan seat and was later inducted as a Cabinet minister.

He worked as a government teacher for 14 years before entering politics after his father, Ujagar Singh Sekhwan, died in 1990. He was a serving SGPC member. He was once even tipped to head the body. He also remained chairman of the Punjab Technical Board. A senior leader said he enjoyed a good relationship with Parkash Singh Badal. — TNS

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