Parkash Singh Badal, the Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch and former Chief Minister of Punjab, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 95. He had been admitted to the ICU of Fortis Hospital in Mohali on Sunday after experiencing difficulty in breathing.
Badal was a five-time Chief Minister of Punjab and had been active in Indian politics for over five decades. He was born on December 8, 1927, in Abul Khurana village in Punjab. Badal first became a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in 1957 and was the youngest legislator in the Punjab Assembly at the age of 29. Throughout his political career, he had been committed to the welfare of the people of his state.
Badal’s first term as Chief Minister of Punjab was in 1970, and his tenure was focused on the development of rural areas in the state. He was again elected as the Chief Minister of Punjab in 1977, after a period of Emergency, and his term focused on strengthening the cooperative movement in Punjab. In 1997, he was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Punjab for the third time and continued to work towards the development of the state.
Badal’s fourth term as the Chief Minister of Punjab was from 2007 to 2012. During this time, he oversaw the development of cities in the state while maintaining a focus on rural development. His fifth term as the Chief Minister of Punjab was from 2012 to 2017. Badal played a vital role in bridging gaps between different communities, and his contribution towards the growth of agriculture and rural development in Punjab is widely acknowledged.
Throughout his career, Badal was honored with several awards, including the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award in India, in 2015. His legacy has left a significant impact on the development of Punjab as an essential region in India.
In February 2022, Badal 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 had been advised by doctors to opt for regular precautionary check-ups, especially after contracting Covid-19.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his condolences on Twitter, calling Badal a political stalwart who made several noteworthy contributions towards the welfare of farmers and other weaker sections of society. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also grieved the former Punjab CM’s death and hailed him as a remarkable statesman who contributed greatly to India.
Badal’s political career had been marked by his commitment to the welfare of the people of his state. His passing is a significant loss to the people of Punjab and the Indian political landscape.
