Mortal remains of Shiromani Akali Dal patron Parkash Singh Badal were brought to party office in Chandigarh on Wednesday for the public to pay final respects to the veteran Punjab politician. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also reach the party office at 12 noon today to pay his tribute to Badal. The senior politician breathed his last Tuesday night after he was admitted to the ICU of Fortis Hospital in Mohali on Sunday, following complaint of difficulty in breathing.
The five-time Punjab CM who passed away at the age of 95, was hospitalised in June last year following a complaint of gastritis and bronchial asthma.
Followers and admirers showered the ambulance with flowers as it made its way to the party office, carrying Badal's mortal remains.
In February 2022, he was taken to a private hospital in Mohali for a post-Covid health check-up during which he had undergone cardiac and pulmonary check-ups too. He was admitted to a hospital in Ludhiana after testing positive for Covid-19 in January 2022. The SAD patriarch was advised by doctors to opt for regular precautionary check-ups, especially after contracting Covid-19.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, grieved the former Punjab CM's death. "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," he said.
Born on December 8, 1927, in Punjab's Abul Khurana village, Badal had been active in Indian politics for over five decades. He was the Chief Minister of Punjab for five times. His political career had been marked by his commitment to the welfare of the people of his state.