BP Singhal, former Director General of Uttar Pradesh Police, former Rajya Sabha MP, former Chairman of Central Film Censor Board and younger brother of veteran VHP leader Shri Ashok Singhal, passed away in New Delhi on October 5. He was 82. He is survived by a daughter. Presently, he was national president of Sanskritik Gaurav Sansthan.
His body was kept at VHP headquarters from 9 to 11 am for last darshan. He was later cremated at Nigam Bodh Ghat on October 6. His nephew Arvind Singhal performed the last rites in the presence of many dignitaries from different walks of life. Prominent among those who paid tribute to departed soul included Acharya Giriraj Kishor, Shri Ashok Singhal, Shri Dinesh Chandra, Shri Om Prakash Singhal, Shri Prakash Sharma, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, Smt Sushma Swaraj, Shri Ramlal, Dr Harsh Vardhan, Sardar Chiranjeev Singh, Shri Mangeram Garg, Shri Bakhshi Paramjeet Singh, Dr Mahesh Chandra Sharma and Shri Gopal Arya. Later, a condolence meeting was organised on October 7 at Chinmaya Mission, Lodhi Road.
BP Singhal held the responsibility of Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Director General of Civil Defence, Commandant General (Home Guards) and National Chief of Fire Services. In July 1998, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha and worked in many Parliamentary committees and sub committees. He authored many books including Hamare Sankalpa and Maa Ki Pukar.
Born on March 15, 1932 in Lucknow, BP Singhal was a brilliant student of his days. As a student he organised a ‘dignity of manual labour week’ and cleaned up the entire Allahabad University buildings and campus. As a young scout he was deputy leader of the National Headquarters Troop and won many championships in badminton, tennis and athletics, during the college and university days. He captained Allahabad University and UP State Kabbadi teams. He was the first recipient of the Chancellor’s Medal for being the best all round student of the Allahabad University in 1954.
He was Assistant Superintendent of Police from 1955 to 1959, Superintendent of Police in seven districts between 1959 and 1973, Deputy Inspector General of Police in four ranges, DIG Anti Corruption, DIG Anti Dacoity Operations between 1973 and 1981, Zonal Inspector General and Principal of Police Training College. He was president of All India Crime Prevention Society since 1993, chairman of Integrated Academy of Management and Technology, founder member the Sanatan Gaurav Chalchitra Sansthan, National Executive Member of BJP. He was also the visiting faculty of the Indian Police Academy (Hyderabad), Indian Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, Administrative Academies at Nainital and Jaipur, Police Training Colleges of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Maharashtra, BSF Academy, and Indian Institute of Public Administration and several other educational institutions.
Paying tribute, VHP general secretary Shri Champat Rai described him as an extremely honest and brave police officer who caught a number of dreaded dacoits of his time in Uttar Pradesh. “He was class fellow of former Prime Minister late Vishwanath Pratap Singh. His contribution during Shri Ramjanmabhoomi movement was also immense,” he said.
Senior BJP leader Dr Murli Manohar Joshi said: “My 61 years old friend with extraordinary personality has departed. He was a great pillar of Hindutva. His death is not only my personal loss but also the entire nation’s loss.”
Leader of Opposition Smt Sushma Swaraj described him ‘a fearless orator who always spoke with logic. He was a pillar of the ideology, Dr Subramanian Swamy said. BP Singhal was an intellectual and patriot par excellence. His memory will keep all of us enthused. Dr Mahesh Chandra of Sanskritik Gaurav Sansthan described him a great personality dedicated to the nation.
(FOC)
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