Badal, who has been in poor health for some time, was rushed to Fortis Hospital in Mohali a week ago after complaining of difficulty breathing
Updated: Wed, 4/26/23 at 12:34pm
Former Chief Minister of Punjab and Patriarch of Shiromani Akali Dal, Parkash Singh Badal passed away on Tuesday, April 15, 2023 at the age of 95. (PTI Photo)
Chandigarh: Parkash Singh Badal, the five-time former Punjab chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch, who was known for his charming humility and deep rural roots, died on Tuesday. He is 95 years old. Badal, who has been in poor health for some time, was admitted to Fortis Hospital in Mohali a week ago complaining of difficulty breathing.
“Mr. Badal passed away at around 8pm,” said hospital director Abhijeet Singh. During his long political career, Badar served as the state’s chief minister five times – 1970-71, 1977-80, 1997-2002, 2007-12 and 2012-17.
Badal, 94, ran for the 13th time last year, becoming the country’s oldest candidate to contest a state election, but failed to save his Lambi pocket in Muktsar district, his second in a political career spanning more than seven years. failed for decades. During the 2022 state polls, the SAD patriarch had stated that he wanted to serve the people to his last breath.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described his death as a “personal loss” and said he was an important figure in Indian politics who had made great contributions to the country. “Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Parkash Singh Badal Ji. He was a giant in Indian politics and an outstanding statesman who made a great contribution to our country,” Modi said in a tweet. The Prime Minister said that Badal had worked tirelessly for the progress of Punjab and strengthened the state at a crucial time. “Parkash Singh Badal’s passing is a personal loss to me. I have interacted closely with him and learned a lot from him over the decades.”
