GURGAON, Nov 17: VHP leader Ashok Singhal, who rose to prominence playing a leading role in the Ram Janambhoomi movement in the late eighties and after, died today at a private hospital here.
Singhal (89), who was admitted to Medanta Medicity hospital on Saturday last with complaints of acute breathlessness and other problems, died at 2.24 PM following cardio-vascular failure and septicaemia, VHP International President Pravin Togadia, himself a doctor, said.
A bachelor and an RSS pracharak all his life, Singhal, adopted an aggressive style in the “kar sewak” campaign in the build up to the demolition of the Babri Masjid in December, 1992.
A Metallurgy engineering graduate from Banaras Hindu University, he pitchforked the organisation in the Ayodhya Ram temple movement and sought to internationalise it by recruiting supporters and organising branches world wide. The overseas supporters contributed immensely to the VHP campaign.
Singh was in the Intensive Care Unit under treatment in the hospital after he was diagnosed with right lower Lobe Pneumonia. He was on ventilator from November 14 evening.
A team of specialists comprising Critical Care, Respiratory, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Neurology and Nephrology had attended on Singh, the hospital had said yesterday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of Singhal. “The demise of Ashok Singhalji is a deep personal loss. He was an institution in himself, whose life was centred around serving the nation,” he tweeted.
He said he was always fortunate to receive Ashokji’s blessings and guidance. “My condolences to his family and countless supporters,” he said.
The Prime Minister noted that Ashok Singhal was the force behind several noble deeds and social work, which benefited the poor. “He is an inspiration for generations,”
Singhal’s body will be brought to the RSS office in Jandewalan in Central Delhi in the night.
It will be kept there till 3 PM tomorrow for public to pay homage after which it will be cremated in the Nigambodh ghat here, Togadia said.
Born in Agra on October 2 in 1926, Singhal has a Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Banaras Hindu University Institute of Technology in 1950.
Having been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since 1942, he became a full-time pracharak after his graduation. He worked in various locations around Uttar Pradesh, becoming a prant pracharak for Delhi and Haryana.
In 1980, he was deputed to VHP and became its Joint General Secretary. In 1984, he became its General Secretary and later elevated to the post of its working President, a role in which he continued till December 2011.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today condoled the death of VHP leader Ashok Singhal, whom he described as a “force behind several noble deeds and social work”, and said his demise was a “deep personal loss” for him.
“The demise of Ashok Singhal ji is a deep personal loss. He was an institution in himself, whose life was centred around serving the nation,” he tweeted.
“Ashok Singhal ji was the force behind several noble deeds & social work, which benefitted the poor. He is an inspiration for generations,” Modi said in another tweet.
The Prime Minister added, “I was always fortunate to receive Ashok ji’s blessings & guidance. My condolences to his family & countless supporters.”
Singhal, who rose to prominence playing a leading role in the Ram Janambhoomi movement in the late eighties and afterwards, died today at a private hospital at the age of 89. (PTI)
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