Beant Singh (chief minister)

Sardar
Beant Singh
Beant Singh
Chief Minister of Punjab
In office
1992–1995
Preceded by President's Rule
Succeeded by Harcharan Singh Brar
Personal details
Born February 19, 1922
Patiala, Punjab
Died August 31, 1995 (aged 73)
Chandigarh, Punjab
Political party Congress
Spouse(s) Jaswant Kaur
Children Tej Parkash Singh
Gurkanwal Kaur
Alma mater Government College University, Lahore

Beant Singh (19 February 1922 - 31 August 1995) was an Indian politician and the Chief Minister of Punjab from 1992 to 1995. He was a member of Indian National Congress. He was killed by suspected Khalistani separatists in a car bombing.[1] The killing was in retaliation for the alleged human rights violations during the anti-insurgency operations in Punjab.[2]

Early life

Singh was born in undivided Punjab and later migrated to the Bilaspur village in the Doraha tehsil of the Ludhiana district. Thereafter he shifted to village Kotli in the same district. He completed his education from the Government College Lahore. At the age of 23, he joined the army but after two years of service, decided to make a switch to politics and social work.

Political career

After the 1947 partition, Beant Singh entered the Punjab politics. In 1960 he was elected chairman of block samiti (committee) of Doraha, in Ludhiana district. After serving for some time as Director of the Central cooperative bank in Ludhiana, Beant Singh entered the Punjab Vidhan Sabha (assembly) as an independent candidate in 1969.

Beant Singh became the chief minister of Punjab in 1992. Beant Singh's tenure as the chief minister witnessed the Punjab insurgency. Under him, the Punjab Police crushed the pro-Khalistan militants forcefully, inviting claims of human rights violations.[3]

Assassination

Beant Singh was assassinated in a bomb blast at the secretariat complex in Chandigarh on August 31, 1995. The blast claimed the lives of 17 others including 3 Indian commandos. Beant Singh was accompanied by his close friend Ranjodh Singh Mann on the day of assassination.[4] Dilawar Singh Jaisinghvala of Khalistan Liberation Force acted as the suicide bomber; later, the standby bomber Balwant Singh Rajoana was also convicted for the killing.[5][6]

In 2012, a Chandigarh court sentenced Balwant Singh to death. A number of Sikhs protested against the decision, and campaigned to stop the execution of Balwant Singh Rajoana. On 28 March 2012 the Government Of India stayed the execution of Rajoana after Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal met President Pratibha Patil seeking clemency for him.[7]

Personal life

His son Tej Parkash Singh was minister in the Punjab government led by Harcharan Singh Brar who succeeded him. His daughter Gurkanwal Kaur is a former minister of state for social welfare & Parliamentary secretary in the Amarinder Singh government. His grand son Ravneet Singh is MP from Ludhiana. Another grand son Gurkirat Singh Kotli is an MLA from Khanna.[8][9] His wife died in 2010.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "New Violence in India Sikh Area Kills Official". The New York Times. 2012-03-28. Retrieved 1995-09-01. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ↑ http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040730/nhrc1.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040730/nhrc1.htm
  4. ↑ Beant killing: First witness testifies. Indian Express.
  5. ↑ "Punjab on edge over hanging of Beant Singh's killer Balwant Singh Rajoana". India Today. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  6. ↑ "India court orders Rajoana execution to proceed". BBC News. 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  7. ↑ Beant Singh killing: Balwant Singh Rajoana's hanging stayed
  8. ↑ http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/mata-jaswant-kaur-be-cremated-tuesday-beant-singh-memorial-chandigarh/22484
  9. ↑ http://twocircles.net/node/214234
  10. ↑ " Mata Jaswant Kaur to be cremated Tuesday at Beant Singh memorial in Chandigarh",. Punjab Newsline, 2010, Retrieved 2012-02-11. http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/mata-jaswant-kaur-be-cremated-tuesday-beant-singh-memorial-chandigarh/22484

Bibliography