Chandigarh: Five-time former Punjab chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal, known for his winsome humility and strong rural roots, died on Tuesday. He was 95.
Badal, who had not been keeping well for sometime, was admitted to Mohali’s Fortis Hospital over a week ago after he complained of uneasiness in breathing.
“Mr Badal passed away at around 8 pm,” hospital Director Abhijeet Singh said.
The hospital issued a medical bulletin shortly afterwards in which it 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.”
During his long political career, Badal served the state as chief minister for 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 fight a state election when he entered the electoral battle for the 13th time but could not save his pocket borough of Lambi in Muktsar district, only second defeat in a political career spanning more than seven decades.
During the 2022 state polls, the SAD patriarch had said he wanted to serve people till his last breath.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described his demise as a “personal loss” and said he was a colossal figure of Indian politics who contributed greatly to the nation. “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,” Modi said in a tweet.
Badal worked tirelessly for the progress of Punjab and anchored the state through critical times, the prime minister said. “Parkash Singh Badal’s passing away is a personal loss for me. I have interacted closely with him for many decades and learnt so much from him.”
The grand old man of Punjab politics has not been keeping well for the past few years. He was hospitalised in June last year following complaints related to gastritis and bronchial asthma.
Before that, in February 2022, he was taken to a private hospital in Mohali for a post-Covid health examination during which he underwent cardiac and pulmonary check-ups. He had tested positive for COVID-19 in January last year and was admitted to a hospital in Ludhiana.
The Fortis Hospital in its bulletin issued on Tuesday evening said, “S Parkash Singh Badal, Former Chief Minister of Punjab, was admitted at Fortis Hospital Mohali on 16th April 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 (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,” it said.
Hospital sources said his health condition suddenly deteriorated during the day on Tuesday.
