Badal, who started in politics at the age of 21 when he became the sarpanch of his village, remained active in politics till the age of 95 and was always at the centre of politics in his political career of more than 74 years

Chandigarh (IANS): Five-time Punjab Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patriarch Parkash Singh Badal, who was suffering from bronchial asthma, passed away at a private hospital in Mohali on Tuesday evening. He was 95.

Badal is survived by his son and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, and his Member of Parliament daughter Parneet Kaur.

He will be cremated at his native place Badal in the state’s Muktsar district on April 27.

His body will be placed at the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) office in Chandigarh for paying last respect from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Wednesday following which it will be taken to Badal village, the party said in a statement.

A media bulletin from the Fortis Hospital said that Parkash Singh Badal was admitted to the hospital on April 16 with acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma. He was shifted to the medical ICU on April 18 as his respiratory condition worsened.

He had been on NIV and HFNC support along with medical management. He was being managed under Digambar Behera along with the pulmonology and criticalcare team supported by cardiology. Despite appropriate medical management, Parkash Singh Badal succumbed to his illness, the hospital statement said.

Akali Dal chief and his son Sukhbir Badal said in a statement that the elderly Badal is “not just a human being, not just an institution, not just an era but it’s like history halts at a critical juncture and I can barely gather my thoughts or manage words to announce that Sardar Parkash Singh Badal left us at 8 p.m. to embark on his journey to eternal peace at Guru Sahiban’s and Akal Purakh’s feet”.

Describing Parkash Singh Badal as a “towering figure” in Indian politics and a leader who served the people of Punjab with distinction, Punjab Governor Banwari Lal Purohit on Tuesday expressed his condolences on his passing away.

“Badal was a man of integrity, wisdom, and compassion, who devoted his life to the service of our people. He was a true son of Punjab, who worked tirelessly to promote the interests of our state and its people,” he said in a statement.

His contribution to the growth and development of Punjab is immeasurable, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come, Purohit said, adding: “Badal’s vision and leadership have helped shape the course of our state’s history, and his presence will be sorely missed by all those who knew him and worked alongside him.”

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and former chief minister Amarinder Singh also offered their condolences and praised Parkash Singh Badal’s contributions to the state and the country as chief minister and union minister. Mann called him an able administrator and, above all, a fine human being with qualities of head and heart. Amarinder Singh said that “Sardar Badal was a towering leader who commanded respect across states cutting across party lines”.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday expressed his condolences on the demise of country’s most “experienced and veteran politician” Parkash Singh Badal.

“The demise of Parkash Singh Badal is an irreparable loss to Indian politics and his name is written in golden letters in the history of the country’s politics,” he said.

He said Badal, who started in politics at the age of 21 when he became the sarpanch of his village, remained active in politics till the age of 95 and was always at the centre of politics in his political career of more than 74 years.

Khattar said the five-time former Chief Minister Badal, became the Chief Minister for the first time at the age of 43.

The Chief Minister said in 2015 Prime Minister Narendra Modi had described Badal as the ‘Nelson Mandela of Independent India’.

He said with the demise of Badal an era of Indian politics has come to an end, which had seen the making and changing of India from Independence till the 21st century.

His goodwill and nature of gelling up with the common people used to establish him as a completely different politician, Khattar added.