Former Punjab chief minister H.S. Brar passes away

Former Punjab chief minister Harcharan Singh Brar passed away here on Sunday after prolonged illness. He was 86.

Mr. Brar was admitted to the Post—graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here for the last few days.

An agriculturist by profession, Mr. Brar, a known Congress leader in Punjab, was chief minister of Punjab from August 1995 till January 1996.

Mr. Brar also served as governor of Orissa and Haryana.

His son, Kanwarjit Singh Brar, is a legislator from Muktsar assembly constituency.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal expressed grief at the death of Mr. Brar.

“In the death of Mr. Brar, the State has lost a balanced and experienced leader, who stood for politics of consensus and held the opposition in high esteem, always opting for the path of conciliation rather than confrontation,” Mr. Badal said in a statement.

The Punjab government has declared a three—day period of mourning from Sunday.

A spokesman said that Mr. Brar would be accorded a state funeral Monday at his native village, Sarai Naga in Muktsar district, 300 km from here.