Former Punjab Chief Minister Surjit Singh Barnala died at PGI Chandigarh today. He was 91 years old. He was admitted to the Cardiac Care Unit of Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, PGI, on Thursday, and was shifted this morning to respiratory ICU, where he breathed his last.<br/>'Mr Barnala, who served as Chief Minister from 1985 to 1987, when militancy was at its peak in Punjab was a moderate leader of the Akali Dal. He became chief minister after the Rajiv-Longowal accord was signed in 1985.<br/>'Born on October 21, 1925 in Ateli village, in Mahendergarh district, now in Haryana, Mr Barnala did his graduation in law from Lucknow before entering politics.<br/>'As Governor of Tamil Nadu, he had refused to recommend dismissal of the DMK government in 1991, when the late Chandrashekhar was the Prime Minister for a short time. He resigned from the post on being transferred to Bihar following his refusal. He had also served as Governor of Uttarakhand and Andhra Pradesh, and held additional charge of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Barnala was Agriculture Minister at the Centre in the Moraji Desai government and Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cabinet.<br/>'Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has condoled the death of Barnala and recalled the services rendered by him as Tamil Nadu Governor, Punjab Chief Minister and Union Minister. Mr Badal said, he was an able administrator and a fine human being with fine qualities of head and heart.<br/>'Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal has expressed grief over his demise. In a condolence message, he said that Mr Barnala was also involved in Quit India Movement in 1942. The Chief Minister conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family and prayed that the departed soul might rest in peace.<br/>