Former Punjab Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal passed away at a private hospital in Mohali on Tuesday evening. He was 95.
Badal was admitted to the Fortis Hospital on April 16 after he complained of breathing difficulties and shifted to the Medical ICU two days later as his respiratory condition worsened.
“He had been on NIV (non-invasive ventilation) and HFNC (high-flow nasal cannula) 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,” the hospital said in a statement.
“Despite appropriate medical management, S Parkash Singh Badal succumbed to his illness. Fortis Hospital Mohali deeply condoles the death of S Parkash Singh Badal,” it said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of Badal, saying he was a colossal figure of Indian politics and a remarkable statesman. “Extremely saddened by the passing away of 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,” Modi tweeted.
The five-time former chief minister was hospitalised in June last year also following complaints related to gastritis and bronchial asthma. In February 2022, he was taken to a private hospital in Mohali for a post-Covid health examination during which he also underwent cardiac and pulmonary check-ups. Badal tested positive for COVID-19 in January last year and was admitted to a hospital in Ludhiana.
Badal had the distinction of becoming the state’s youngest CM when he took charge for the first time in his early forties in March 1970, though his stint lasted just over a year. He had a longer term of almost three years after the SAD won the first post-Emergency elections in Punjab.
During the turbulent years of militancy, he stood up for the rights of Sikhs as well as Punjab and protested against the excesses of the Congress government at the Centre. After boycotting the 1992 Assembly elections, Badal led the SAD to a remarkable comeback victory in 1997, in alliance with an unlikely ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Badal’s close ties with BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee strengthened the alliance and gave Punjab a much-needed stable government after the upheaval caused by militancy. The beleaguered state finally returned to the path of progress and development.
