Surjit Singh Barnala, former Chief Minister of Punjab, dies

Former Chief Minister of Punjab, Surjit Singh Barnala, passed away on 14 January 2017. He was 91.

Barnala served as the Chief Minister of Punjab from 29 September 1985 until 11 May 1987, a period of Sikh militant movement in Punjab. He was a member of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal).

About Surjit Singh Barnala

• Born on 21 October 1925, he completed his graduation in law from Lucknow.

• His first ministerial assignment was in 1969 when he was sworn in as Education Minister in the Justice Gurnam Singh Government.

• He had also served as the Governor of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand. He was the first Governor of Uttarakhand from its creation in 2000 until 2003.

• From December 1990 to 18 March 1993, he served as the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

• As Governor of Tamil Nadu, he had famously refused to recommend dismissal of the DMK government in 1991. When he was transferred to Bihar following his refusal, he chose to resign as Governor.

• He also served as the Agriculture Minister in the Moraji Desai government and the Chemicals & Fertilisers Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cabinet.

• He signed the historic Ganga Waters Agreement (Farakka Agreement) with Bangladesh in 1978.