Parkash Singh Badal, former five-time chief minister of Punjab took his last breath in Mohali yesterday. The Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch Badal was 95. Following complaints of difficulty breathing, the former chief minister was brought to Fortis Hospital in Mohali a week ago. Badal was the youngest chief minister ever to hold office in the state of Punjab. President Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several federal ministries, chief ministers, and leaders from all political backgrounds expressed their condolences for Parkash Singh Badals passing on Tuesday and praised his enormous contributions to the state and the nation.President Murmu taking to the Twitter handle of Rashtrapati Bhavan said, “Shri Parkash Singh Badal was one of the tallest political stalwarts since independence. Though his exemplary career in public service was largely confined to Punjab, he was respected across the country. His demise leaves a void. My heartfelt condolences to his family and admirers.”Shri Parkash Singh Badal was one of the tallest political stalwarts since independence. Though his exemplary career in public service was largely confined to Punjab, he was respected across the country. His demise leaves a void. My heartfelt condolences to his family and…— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) April 25, 2023Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “Extremely saddened by the passing away of Shri Parkash Singh Badal Ji. He was a colossal figure in 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.”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. pic.twitter.com/scx2K7KMCq— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 25, 2023Amit Shah, the union minister, and K Chandrasekhar Rao, the chief minister of Telangana, have expressed their condolences on Parkash Singh Badals passing. Rao recalled the efforts made by the late leader to build Punjab, starting with his work as a rural sarpanch and continuing as a Union Minister and Chief Minister of Punjab.Amit Shah said, “The passing away of veteran leader, Shri Parkash Singh Badal Sahab is deeply saddening. His career spanning several decades was dedicated to the welfare of the poor. His demise is an irreparable loss to Indian politics. My heartfelt condolences are with his family and followers.”The passing away of veteran leader, Shri Parkash Singh Badal Sahab is deeply saddening. His career spanning several decades was dedicated to the welfare of the poor. His demise is an irreparable loss to Indian politics. My heartfelt condolences are with his family and followers. pic.twitter.com/yF7HX2EpkG— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 25, 2023The chief minister of Haryana, Manohar Lal Khattar, met his former counterpart from Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday, as the two arrived to pay their respects to the patron of the Shiromani Akali Dal. Khattar said that his demise marks the end of an era.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also paid expressed his grief to the bereaved family members and supports SAD (Shiromani Akali Dal). He called Badal, “A lifelong leader of the politics of India and Punjab.”The political career of Parkash Singh BadalThe seasoned politician worked his way up the political ladder, beginning as a rural sarpanch, before running in his first assembly election as a Congressman in 1957, at the age of 30.He only lost two elections in a career spanning more than seven decades: one in 1967 and the most recent in the Punjab assembly election in 2022. The loss was especially painful for him because he had been leading Lambi for many years.In June 1984, when the Army raided the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar to sweep out terrorists as part of Operation Bluestar, he actively courted capture.Badals Role in Akali MovementDuring the emergency, Parkash Singh Badal was held at the Karnal prison in connection with the Civil Liberties Agitation, Badal was later released under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act. He presided over the Akali Dal as president from 1996 till 2008.Several times, during the emergency that Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared in 1975–1977, Badal was detained. At the beginning of 1977, he was chosen to serve in Prime Minister Morarji Desais cabinet after being elected to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian parliament. However, Badals tenure in national office was brief because the SAD insisted on his return to the politics of Punjab. Shortly after, he started serving as chief minister for a second time.
