VHP leader Ashok Singhal passes away

Few days back he was admitted to a private hospital Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon in Gurgaon, following heart and kidney problems and breathlessness, remains “very critical”, doctors said on Sunday.

Singhal did not hide his glee when Narendra Modi became the prime minister in May 2014.

Singhal rose to prominence after he adopted an aggressive style in the “kar sewak” campaign in the Ram Janambhoomi movement in the late eighties which led to demolition of Babri Mosque in December 1992. “He had enormous contribution in making the face of Vishwa Hindu Parishad which we see today”, Vaidya told ANI.

Born on September 15, 1926 in Agra (India) Ashok Singhal was the President of Hindu organisation Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

“Ashok Singhalji dedicated his entire life in service to the nation and his five decades in social life made him an institution in himself”, Rajnath Singh added.

Singhal was admitted to Medanta – The Medicity hospital in Sector 38 and was kept on life-support systems in the Intensive Care Unit. But that hard work was extremely well done by Ashok Singhal ji.

He joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1942 – the year the Indian independence struggle reached a new peak – after meeting Rajendra Singh, popularly known as Rajju Bhaiya, the fourth Sarsanghchalak (chief) of the RSS.

“I was always fortunate to receive Ashokji’s blessings and guidance”.

What could be more embarrassing for a country than when its Prime Minister calls a person notorious for courting controversy with his provocative statements and anti-Muslim stand as “an inspiration for generations”? “My condolences to his family and numerous supporters”, he stated. He worked in UP, Haryana and Delhi and became VHP joint general secretary in 1980. He was instrumental in playing a key role in launching an Andolan in Uttar Pradesh against the Emergency and also the “Gau-Raksha Andolan” for the protection of cows. “His last wish-Ram Temple”. “VHP built 200 temples for Dalits and after that, the conversions were stopped”, Singhal said. Four years later, he became its general secretary and, later, the working president, a post he held till 2011.

Singhal’s death is expected to end a period in which the VHP enjoyed unprecedented camaraderie with the BJP.