FATEHGARH SAHIB, April 9: — Senior Akali leader and former Punjab minister Randhir Singh Cheema passed away on Tuesday at the age of 97 after a prolonged illness. A trusted aide of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Cheema was one of the oldest members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), having served since 1965.
His last rites will be held in Karimpura, his native village located in the Bassi Pathana assembly constituency.
Cheema served as Public Works Minister in the Badal-led government and had earlier represented the Sirhind assembly constituency. After his victory from Sirhind, he was inducted as a cabinet minister. Following delimitation, the constituency was later divided into Fatehgarh Sahib and Bassi Pathana.
He remained active in religious affairs and internal matters of the SGPC. On March 9, 2024, during a gathering in Fatehgarh Sahib, Cheema opposed the SGPC internal committee’s decision to remove the Jathedars. Along with his son Jagdeep Singh Cheema, he called for a reversal of the decision, citing concerns over its impact on Sikh religious leadership.
Cheema’s long-standing role in both political and religious spheres earned him respect across party lines. His passing marks the end of an era in Punjab’s political and religious landscape.
