New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described the death of former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal as a “personal loss” and described him as a “giant figure” of Indian politics. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patriarch Badal died aged 95. Tuesday at a private hospital in Mohali, Punjab.
PM Narendra Modi on his official Twitter account said, “Deeply saddened by the passing away of Shri Parkash Singh Badal ji. He was a towering figure in Indian politics, and a remarkable statesman who contributed immensely to our country.”
He said that Badal worked tirelessly for the progress of Punjab and supported the state in difficult times.
“Prakash Singh Badal’s death is a personal loss for me. I have interacted closely with him for several decades and learned a lot from him,” Modi said.
He also shared some of his photographs with the five-time Punjab Chief Minister.
“I miss our many conversations in which his intelligence was always clearly visible. Condolences to his family and countless fans,” the prime minister tweeted.
The demise of Shri Prakash Singh Badal is a personal loss for me. I have interacted closely with him for many decades and learned a lot from him. I remember our many conversations, in which his intelligence was always clearly visible. Condolences to his family and countless fans. pic.twitter.com/YtD9xKsos2Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 25, 2023
Parkash Singh Badal was admitted after he complained of breathlessness
Parkash Singh Badal was admitted to Fortis Hospital in Mohali a week back after he complained of breathlessness. Hospital officials said that he breathed his last at around 8 pm.
The hospital issued a medical bulletin shortly after which said, “Despite appropriate medical management, S Parkash Singh Badal succumbed to his illness. Fortis Hospital Mohali deeply condoles the death of S Parkash Singh Badal. ”
Fortis Hospital, in its bulletin issued on Tuesday evening, also said that Badal was admitted with acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma.
“He was on NIV (non-invasive ventilation) and HFNC (high-flow nasal cannula) support with medical management. He was being managed under Prof (Dr) Digambar Behera with pulmonology and critical care team supported by cardiology It said.
The veteran leader had not been keeping well for the past few years and was admitted to the hospital in June last year following complaints related to gastritis and bronchial asthma.
Earlier, in February 2022, he was taken to a private hospital in Mohali for post-Covid health check-up, during which he underwent cardiac and pulmonary check-up.
He had tested positive for coronavirus in January last year and was admitted to a hospital in Ludhiana.
A look at Prakash Singh Badal’s long political career
Born on 8 December 1927 at Abul Khurana near Malout, Parkash Singh Badal graduated from Foreman Christian College, Lahore. His political journey began in 1947 when he became the ‘sarpanch’ (village head) of Badal village in Bathinda district. After this he became the chairman of the block committee.
During his long political career, he served as the Chief Minister of Punjab five times – 1970–71, 1977–80, 1997–2002, 2007–12 and 2012–17.
At 94, Badal last year became the country’s oldest candidate to contest the state election when he contested for the 13th time but could not retain his stronghold of Lambi in Muktsar district, in a political career of over seven only the second defeat of the decade.
During the 2022 state elections, the SAD patriarch had said that he wanted to serve the people till his last breath.
Parkash Singh Badal became an MLA for the first time in 1957 when he was elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly from Malout constituency as a Congress member. He then moved to the Gidderbaha assembly seat from where he was elected as an MLA on an Akali Dal ticket during the 1969 mid-term elections.
When the then Chief Minister Gurnam Singh joined the Congress, the SAD members regrouped overnight, elected Badal as their leader on March 27, 1970, and formed the government with the support of the Jana Sangh.
But due to constant quarrels and infighting, he advised the governor to dissolve the assembly on June 13, 1971.
Badal was re-elected in the 1972 elections, but became Leader of the Opposition as the Shiromani Akali Dal failed to form a government.
Badal was chief minister for 15 months in 1970–71 and 32 months in 1977–1980.
During the 1977 elections, he again won from the Gidderbaha constituency and became the Chief Minister of the Akali-Janata Party government.
His government passed the Punjab Women and Child Development and Welfare Corporation Bill, 1979 to ensure the development of women and children in the state.
He was re-elected to the state assembly in June 1980 and September 1985 from the Gidderbaha constituency.
Badal courted arrest in June 1984 during Operation Bluestar, when the army entered the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar to flush out terrorists.
He refused to become Deputy Chief Minister under Surjit Singh Barnala after the 1985 elections and later left the party as the rift widened. In 1986, Badal formed the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal).
Badal was elected as an MLA in 1997 after being shifted to the Lambi constituency and became the chief minister on 12 February that year as the leader of the SAD-BJP government.
During this tenure, his government decided to give free electricity to farmers and waive off land revenue. Badal was re-elected in 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017 from the Long seat.
In 1967, he lost the Gidderbaha seat to Harcharan Singh Brar of INC by a margin of just 57 votes. This was his first electoral defeat. The second one came last year.
Meanwhile, the Center has announced two days of national mourning following his demise.