On April 25, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) condoled the demise of Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch and former Chief Minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal.
In a joint statement, RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat and Sarkaryawah Dattatreya Hosabale said “Prakash Singh Badal carved a special place in the public life of Punjab through his impressive personality and work, and across the country by his simplicity and humility.”
He will be fondly remembered for his qualities for a long time. With his passing away, the absence of a dedicated, experienced personality in the political life of the nation will be felt for a long time, statement further read.
“We express our deepest condolences on the demise of Parkash Singh Badal ji and pray to the Almighty that his family members get the strength to bear this loss. May his soul attain moksha,” the statement read.
Parkash Singh Badal passed away at the age of 95 on April 25. It was reported that the former CM was running ill for a long time and breathed his last breath in Fortis Hospital, Mohali. He was admitted to the hospital after he complained about breathing problems, and the doctors monitored his health in the ICU.
The Fortis Hospital said, “S Parkash Singh Badal, Former Chief Minister of Punjab, was admitted at Fortis Hospital Mohali on April 16, 2023, with acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma. He was shifted to the medical ICU on 18th April as his respiratory condition worsened. He had been on NIV and HFNC support along with medical management.”
“He was being managed under Prof (Dr) Digambar Behera along with the Pulmonology and critical care team supported by Cardiology. Despite appropriate medical management S Parkash Singh Badal succumbed to his illness. Fortis Hospital Mohali deeply condoles the death of S Parkash Singh Badal,” the statement added.
Parkash Singh Badal was born on December 8, 1927, in Punjab’s Abul Khurana village near Malout. He became the youngest Sarpanch at the age of 20, before starting his political career in 1947 as a member of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) party.
Parkash Singh Badal contested Punjab’s assembly elections in 1957 for the first time, he went on to win four consecutive elections. Thereafter, he became the state’s youngest and 8th CM in 1970.
Furthermore, he served as Punjab’s CM five times, from 1970 to 1971, then from then from 1977 to 1980, then from 1997 to 2002, from 2007 to 2012 and from 2012 to 2017. It is pertinent to note that Parkash Singh Badal became the oldest CM in 2012.
He also served as the 11th Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare during former Prime Minister Morarji Desai’s tenure.
On April 27, Parkash Singh Badal was cremated in his ancestral village in Punjab’s Muktsar district. Thousands of mourners and political leaders across the political spectrum assembled to pay their last respects for the former five-time Chief Minister. The SAD patron was given a funeral with full state honours.
On April 26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Chandigarh and went to Shiromani Akali Dal’s office to pay his last respects to the SAD patron on April 26.
PM Modi tweeted, “Extremely saddened by the passing away of Shri Parkash Singh Badal Ji. He was a colossal figure of Indian politics and a remarkable statesman who contributed greatly to our nation. He worked tirelessly for the progress of Punjab and anchored the state through critical times.”
BJP National President JP Nadda arrived at Punjab’s Lambi village to pay his last respects to the Shiromani Akali Dal patron on April 27.
Furthermore, he said, “It is very saddening that Parkash Singh Badal is not among us anymore. He was not a politician, he was a statesman. He contributed his life towards establishing peace and brotherhood in the society. We learned a lot from him…,” at Lambi.
BJP leader and former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh expressed grief over the former five-times CM’s demise.
In his condolence message to Parkash Singh Badal’s son and Shiromani Akali Dal’s president, Sukhbir Singh Badal, he said he shares the family’s grief over the irreparable loss. Furthermore, he said that it was the loss of the entire state and the country and not only for the family. He said, “Sardar Badal was a towering leader who commanded respect across states cutting across party lines.”
“Parkash Singh Badal was a resolute and visionary leader, who never tired of raising his voice for the poor and farmers. He represented his Legislative Assembly for 10 consecutive terms and remained chief minister of Punjab for 20 years. His demise today marks the end of an era. I am here to pay him my last tributes on behalf of myself, the Haryana government and also the people of Haryana,” Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar told media.
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