Sea of people pays tribute to former minister Chuni Lal Bhagat

Cabinet Ministers Aman Arora,  Harpal Cheema, Gurmeet Khudian, Hardeep Mundian, Dr. Ravjot Singh, AAP Punjab Prabhari Manish Sisodiya, and Dr. Gurpreet Kaur Mann describes late Chuni Lal Bhagat a towering personality of Punjab's politics

Jalandhar , September 20 (The Hind Canadian Times) : A sea of people gathered at MS Farm, Basti Peer Dad, here on Sunday to pay their last respects to veteran leader and former Punjab Cabinet Minister Chuni Lal Bhagat during a Shardhanjali Sabha held in his memory. Aam Aadmi Party Punjab Prabhari Manish Sisodiya, Dr. Gurpreet Kaur Mann, wife of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Cabinet Minister and Punjab Aam Aadmi Party president Aman Arora, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema, Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Cabinet Minister Hardeep Mundian, Dr. Ravjot Singh, Advisor Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department Deepak Bali, Working President AAP Amansher Singh Sherry Kalsi, MLA Balkar Singh, MLA Bhram Shankar Jimpa, Mayor Vineet Dhir, Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Walia, Commissioner of Police Satinder Singh, SSP Harvinder Singh Virk, along with other dignitaries, leaders and people from different sections of society, paid tributes to the departed leader.

Remembering Chuni Lal Bhagat, Cabinet Ministers Aman Arora, Harpal Cheema, Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Hardeep Mundian, Punjab AAP Prabhari Manish Sisodiya, and Dr. Gurpreet Kaur Mann described him as a “towering personality in Punjab’s politics” who “earned a distinguished name through hard work and honesty”. They said the Bhagat family had suffered an irreparable loss with the demise of its head and prayed to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family.

Recalling his journey, they said Chuni Lal Bhagat came to Jalandhar after Partition, where the family established a sports goods export business and earned a name in the field. He later entered active politics and served as Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha before becoming a Cabinet Minister holding important portfolios, they added. The vast sea of humanity gathered at the Shradhanjali Sabha was described as the true wealth earned by the Bhagat family—a powerful testament to Bhagat Chuni Lal’s deep, personal bond with the people, they mentioned.

Notably, Chuni Lal Bhagat, who passed away at the age of 93 after a prolonged illness, was remembered for his long public life, accessibility and commitment to the people of Jalandhar and the Doaba region. He served as a multi-term MLA from Jalandhar West and held key portfolios, including Local Bodies, Medical Education and Forest and Wildlife Preservation. He was also recalled for his emphasis on integrity, transparency and public service.

The speakers also recalled his accessible style of functioning, with his doors remaining open to people across political and social lines. His son, Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat, is now carrying forward the family’s public service legacy. The Cabinet Ministers also assured that the Punjab Government and the entire AAP leadership stood firmly with Mohinder Bhagat and his family during the hour of grief.

Chairman Punjab Cooperative Agriculture Development Bank Pawan Teenu, Vice Chairman Punjab Gau Sewa Commission Kimti Bhagat,Chairman Punjab Agri Export Corporation Limited Mangal Bassi, Chairman Jalandhar Improvement Trust Ramneek Singh Randhawa, Chairman Muslim Welfare Board Abdul Bahri Salmani, Deputy Mayor Malkeet Singh, Halqa Incharge Nitin Kohli, and representatives from sant Samaj attended the Shardhanjali Sabha.