NEW DELHI: Former Chief Election Commissioner of India and Ex Rajya Sabha member Manohar Singh Gill on Sunday( October 15) passed away at the age of 87 after a brief illness. He will be creamted today at Lodhi crematoriaum at 3.30 PM.
Gill is survived nby his wife Vinnie and daughters Natasha Gauri and Kaveri. Gauri said that her father was ill for the last three days and he was active till his last breathe. He passed away peacefully.
Gill was born in Alladinpur village in Tarn Taran district of Punjab. He was Chief Secretary in Punjab Government before being appointed CEC. He retired as CEC in 2002 and later joined Congress party and became Rajya Sabha member from Punjab from 2004 to 2016. He was also Minister of youth affairs and sports from 2008 to 2011 and conducted commonwealth games in 2010. He resigned from cabinet in 2011.
Gill was also architect of Apni Mandi concept in Chandigarh and this model was later replicated in Punjab and Haryana. Pro farmer bureacrat Gill was appointed Principal secretary of former Akali Dal CM Parkash Singh Badal in 1971. His contribution in agruculture sector in Punjab will always be remembered.