Senior Congress leader and six-time MP from Amritsar Raghunandan Lal Bhatia passed away after a brief illness, his family members said on Saturday. He was 100.
Mr. Bhatia died at a private hospital here on Friday night. He is survived by his son Ramesh Bhatia, daughter Saroj Munjal and younger brother J L Bhatia, they said.
He was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1972 from Amritsar and again from the same seat in the 1980, 1985, 1992, 1996 and 1999 elections as a member of the Indian National Congress.
Mr. Bhatia had also served as the Governor of Kerala and Bihar from 2004 to 2008 and 2008 to 2009, respectively. He had also served as the Minister of State for External Affairs in 1992.
As a senior member of the Congress, he held various positions including the post of Punjab unit president and general secretary.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh expressed grief over the death.
“Saddened to lose former Governor & senior Congress leader & six-time MP Raghunandan Lal Bhatiaji. My thoughts and prayers are with his family members in their hour of grief. May his soul rest in peace,” he tweeted.
Punjab Congress leader and MLA Raj Kumar Verka describing him as “Bhishma Pitamah” of the Indian politics.
The mortal remains of Mr. Bhatia were consigned to flames with full state honours at the Shiv Puri electric crematorium of Durgiana Temple in the evening.
Leaders from many parties besides relatives paid respects to him.
