Nirankari Mission head Hardev Singh dies

Hardev Singh, head of Nirankari Mission, was killed in a road accident in Canada on Friday. He was 62.

"With profound pain and sorrow, this is to inform all that His Holiness Nirankari Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj has merged into this Almighty God. He was travelling in a car in Canada which met with a serious accident at about 5 am (IST) today," a statement issued by Sant Nirankari Mandal, New Delhi said.

"Further details will be conveyed as soon as it is finalised. In the meantime, Sant Nirankari Mandal has urged all the devotees not to rush to Delhi or to the headquarters of the Mission," Kirpa Sagar, member incharge of the mandal said in the statement.

Hardev Singh, son of assassinated Nirankari head Gurbachan Singh was in Canada to attend spiritual meetings. A Nirankari International Samagam was scheduled to be held in June in Toronto in Canada.

Hardev Singh was born to Gurbachan Singh and Kulwant Kaur on February 23, 1954 in Delhi.

After his early schooling at Rosary Public School, Sant Nirankari Colony, Delhi, he joined Yadavindra Public School, Patiala, a boarding school, in 1963.

On completion of his schooling, he studied in Delhi University. In 1971, he joined the Nirankari Sewa Dal as its primary member.

After the assassination of his father Gurbachan Singh, who was then head of the Sant Nirankari Mission in 1980, Hardev Singh succeeded as the 'Satguru' of the organisation.

Sant Nirankari Mission was established in 1929, by Buta Singh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise of Hardev Singh terming it as a "tragic and great loss to the spiritual world. My thoughts are with his countless followers in this sad time."

Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Sirsa headquartered Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh mourned the death of Baba Hardev Singh.

In a condolence message, Khattar described Hardev Singh as a "great spiritual leader" who would be long remembered for his tireless service to the humanity. His death is a great loss to the spiritual world."

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Amarinder Singh said Hardev's death "is a great loss not only to his followers but also humanity as a whole since he was a great spiritual leader."

The former chief minister said, "the spiritual void created by his death will be very difficult to be filled. "I personally share the grief of the family and followers over this great loss", he said.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat described Hardev Singh's death as an "irreparable loss to humanity."

"Baba Hardev Singh ji's work in the field of spirituality cannot be forgotten. He added a new dimension to the Nirankari Mission. His death is an irreparable loss to humanity," Rawat said in a statement.

Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress President Kishore Upadhyay also condoled his death saying his words of wisdom in a terror-torn world were like a guiding light in a room filled with darkness.