Mangal Dhillon, star of 'Junoon' and 'Buniyaad', dies at 64
Ludhiana(PTI): Actor Mangal Dhillon, best known for his performance in hit TV serials such as "Junoon" and "Buniyaad", died battling cancer on Saturday in Ludhiana district's Neelo Kalan village, his family said. He was 64. Dhillon, also known for Hindi films such as "Khoon Bhari Maang" and "Vishwatma", was admitted to a private hospital before his family took him home a few days ago.
According to his sister Ranjeet Kaur, the actor passed away late last evening in the village Neelo Kalan.
Dhillon was born in village Wander Jattana in Faridkot district and later moved to Uttar Pradesh, where his father owned agricultural land.
In a career spanning over three decades, Dhillon garnered popularity for his role of Labhaya Ram in Ramesh Sippy's TV soap opera "Buniyaad" (1986-87) and as Sumer Rajvansh in the 1994 drama serial "Junoon".
He worked both in Hindi and Punjabi movies, including "Khalsa", for which he was honoured by the Punjab government.
SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal remembered Dhillon for his "captivating voice".
"Saddened to learn about the demise of noted actor, writer, director and producer of Punjabi cine industry Mr Mangal Dhillon.
"It's a big loss to the world of Indian Cinema. His captivating voice and theatrical displays will be missed by many. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, friends and fans," Badal wrote on Twitter.
Anmol Gagan Mann, Punjab Tourism and Culture Affairs Minister, also expressed grief over Dhillon's passing at a press conference. Actor Yashpal Sharma, who found out about Dhillon being admitted to a cancer hospital a week ago, said the late actor had "bid adieu to acting".
"About a year-and-half ago, I got to know that he had become a motivational speaker. He was working towards the betterment of society," Sharma told PTI.
"Dahaad" star Gulshan Devaiah shared Dhillon's photo on Twitter with the caption: "'Mangal Dhillon' Shradhanjali'.
Dhillon is survived by a son and a daughter.
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'Rear-guard action': BJP over Mamata accepting sports minister's resignation after Messi event
New Delhi (PTI): The BJP on Tuesday alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's accepting Aroop Biswas' resignation as the state sports minister is nothing but a "rear-guard action" to douse public anger over the mismanagement of football icon Lionel Messi's event last week.
BJP co-in-charge for West Bengal Amit Malviya alleged that this is also an "open confession" that the Messi event fiasco was not accidental but a government-manufactured disaster, borne out of the poor governance of Banerjee, her ministers and the state bureaucracy.
Banerjee on Tuesday accepted Biswas' resignation as the sports minister in the wake of the controversy over the mismanagement of football icon Messi's event last week, a senior leader of the ruling TMC said.
Biswas, who had written to the chief minister seeking to be relieved of his responsibilities as sports minister, will continue as a cabinet minister, retaining charge of the power department.
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Reacting to the development, Malviya said in a post on X, "TMC Sports Minister Aroop Biswas resigns after the Messi fiasco and Mamata Banerjee accepts it in record time."
"Do not mistake this for accountability; this is nothing but a rear-guard action to douse public anger. anger! This is not 'Raj Dharma'," he added.
The BJP leader alleged that the incident was the outcome of "loot" of common people which is "so synonymous" with the TMC.
The incident was also the outcome of the "shameless VIP culture that TMC thrives on and deep-rooted cronyism promoted by Banerjee," he charged.
Malviya further alleged that Biswas' resignation exposes a "collective failure of Mamata Banerjee, her partisan bureaucracy, and her crony cabinet".
"This is a symbolic sacrifice, a political hoax, soon to be buried under layers of bureaucracy, with no justice, no accountability, and no remorse," the BJP leader said, adding, "No resignation will bring back the time lost, the money wasted, or the stolen chance for football lovers to witness Messi in Kolkata."
