JAMMU: Former Minister and Senior Vice President People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Rangil Singh breathed his last on Tuesday morning after cardiac arrest. He was 84.
The death of iconic leader, who witnessed the changing political canvas of State since partition of the country, is being seen as the end of a political saga in the State.
His cremation shall take place on (Friday) June 9, 2017 at 5:00 PM at Jogi Gate Cremation Ground, as his family members have to reach Jammu from abroad.
According to reports, he was hale and hearty on Tuesday morning and was on his way to Mahant Bachittar Singh College of Engineering and Technology, where he was rendering his services as Chairman. However, on the way, he decided to visit Jammu and Kashmir Bank’s Ambphalla Branch at around 10:30 AM. It was in the cubicle of Bank Manager that the senior PDP leader Rangil Singh stumbled after a silent heart attack. He was later shifted to GMC hospital where doctors declared about his death.
Singh was born in 1933 at village Chatthar in Tehsil Bagh which is located in Pak occupied Kashmir (PoK). He graduated from Prince of Wales College Jammu and went to Lucknow for his post graduation. He completed his Masters Degree along with L.L.B from Lucknow in 1956 and went to London for Bar at Law in the year 1957.
He was first elected as Member of the Legislative Assembly in the year 1972 from R S Pura assembly segment. He was second time elected in the State Legislative Assembly from Jammu West in 1983. In the year 1987, he was again elected as member of Legislative Assembly from R S Pura assembly segment.
Singh remained Minister in the J&K Government and held the portfolios of Education, Revenue and Relief and Health and Medical Education. In 2011, he was appointed as Spokesman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Jammu province. Currently Vice President of PDP, Rangil Singh was also member of the Political Affairs Committee of the party. He was well versed in religious, national and international affairs.
Rangil Singh acted as Chairman MBS College of Engineering and Technology situated at Babliana Jammu from the date of its inception since 1999. He was also the President of J&K Olympic Association and has visited many countries representing Indian Olympic Association. He also held tenure as the President of J&K Motor Transport Companies Association Jammu and contributed a lot for the welfare of Transport Industry.
He is survived by a son and two daughters. His death has been widely mourned by the people belonging to various organizations ranging from politics to trade and industries to social organizations. Various Sikh organisations have deeply condoled the ultimate and untimely demise of Rangil Singh.