Punjab: Veteran Cong leader Lal Singh passes away
Patiala (PTI): Veteran Congress leader and former Punjab Minister Lal Singh passed away on Saturday. Known as the "Bhishma Pitamah" of the Punjab Congress, the 84-year-old leader breathed his last at a private hospital in Mohali.
According to family sources, he complained of breathing difficulties earlier this afternoon at his Chandigarh residence. He was rushed to the hospital in Mohali, where he breathed his last.
Lal Singh's political career spanned nearly five decades.
In the 1990s, he emerged as a powerful and influential minister in the cabinet of the then chief minister Beant Singh, playing a central role in state governance during a transformative period.
He later served as finance minister under the Congress government headed by Amarinder Singh (2002-07). Singh, who also remained a six-term MLA, also served as the president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC).
First elected in 1977 from Dakala, he represented the constituency five times and later won from Sanour in 2012. He is survived by his son, Kaka Rajinder Singh, and daughter, Rupinder Kaur.
His son and former Samana MLA, Kaka Rajinder Singh, accompanied his father's mortal remains as they were brought to Patiala.
Speaking to PTI over the phone, Kaka Rajinder Singh shared that while the family is in deep mourning, they will consult with relatives and well-wishers before finalising the time and location for the last rites.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Sameer Ahmed elected President of SKMWA Muscat for 2026–2027
Muscat: Sameer Ahmed, a native of Udupi and currently employed in a private company in Muscat, has been elected President of the South Kanara Muslim Welfare Association (SKMWA), Muscat, for the 2026–2027 term.
The election was conducted during the association’s Annual General Body Meeting held at Al Reef Hotel, Muscat, in the presence of chief guests Adil Shaikh, Monabba, Shareef, and Sahebzada Mehmood.
The newly elected office bearers include Vice Presidents Mohd Arif (Udupi) and Niyaz Mohammed (Mangalore), General Secretary Jaseem Basha (Kundapura), Joint Secretaries Rizwan Ali (Udupi) and Zaheer Hussain (Moodbidri), Treasurer Tajuddin Sheikh (Tonse), Assistant Treasurer Irfan Ahmed (Udyavara), Finance Secretary Mohammed Asif Gafur (Karkala), Assistant Finance Secretary Mohammed Akif Gafoor (Karkala), and Auditor Ashraf Ali (Kaup).
The Core Committee includes Event Coordinators Ansar Katipalla and Adil Moodbidri, and Sports Coordinators Ashpak Basrur and Muneer Ahmed (Sastan).
The programme commenced with a recitation from the Holy Quran by Zaid Asif. The Annual Activity Report for 2025 was presented by Sameer Ahmed, while the financial report was delivered by Mohammed Asif Gafoor and verified by Auditor Ashraf Ali.
Former president Azim was felicitated by Syed Mohiddin Saheb during the event.
The meeting concluded with an address by the newly elected president, followed by a vote of thanks proposed by General Secretary Jaseem Basha. The programme was coordinated by Syed Mohiddin Saheb (Sastan) and Ansar Katipalla.
