VHP leader Ashok Singhal passes away

Gurgaon

Veteran Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Ashok Singhal(89), who was admitted to Medanta hospital in Gurgaon, following heart and kidney problems and breathlessness passed away today. VHP leader Dr Pravin Togadia confirmed this news.

Shri Singhal was critical and on life support system in the Intensive Care Unit. He was being treated for cardian and nephrological problems and not showing any sign of improvement.He had also developed problems in breathing.

BJP president Amit Shah, union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, and BJP general secretary (organization) Ramlal, Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and union ministers Rajnath Singh and Uma Bharti, Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev, union minister Harsh Vardhan, VHP leader Praveen Togadia, Maninderjeet Singh Bitta, chairman, All-India Anti-Terrorist Front, and a few state leaders had visited the hospital in last three days to enquire about Singhal’s health. All the visitors, however, could not meet him as Singhal is on life-support. DeshGujarat

Ashok Singhal: Engineer turned Hindutva leader

PTI
A metallurgy engineer, Ashok Singhal metamorphosed into a Hindutva warrior who as VHP chief played an adequate foil in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement when the BJP led the political campaign in the late eighties and later.

The 89-year-old right-wing firebrand leader dedicated his life for the Hindutva cause adopting an aggressive style and played a key role in mobilising support for the Ram Janambhoomi as well as the Ram Setu movements.

It was under his stewardship that the international branding of VHP was conceptualised for which he recruited supporters and established offices abroad. The VHP got immense contribution from outside India for its campaign.

Singhal was instrumental in the “kar sewak” campaign that led to the bringing down of the 16th century Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992.

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.

Attached to the RSS he was inspired by its ideology throughout his life and was a prominent member of the Sangh Parivar.

VHP leaders considered him their “guide and visionary” as he led many a movement during his lifetime. 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.

Singhal continued to play an active role in VHP and remained its patron till the end. Incidentally, a few days prior to being admitted to the hospital, Singhal undertook a 30-day tour of various countries to oversee the VHP activities.

Entrusted to work for VHP in 1980, Singhal turned active after the Meenakshipuram conversions in 1981 in Tamil Nadu when VHP built 200 temples for Dalits specifically and claimed that conversions stopped thereafter.

Singhal played the role of a key organiser of VHP’s first ‘Dharma Sansad’ in 1984 in Delhi that attracted hundreds of Sadhus and Hindu Saints to discuss the rejuvenating of Hinduism.

It was here that the movement for reclaiming the Ramjanambhoomi temple at Ayodhya was born and Singhal soon emerged as the chief architect of the Ramjanambhoomi movement.

The VHP opened branches in 40 nations from east to to west, including in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany to Indonesia and Japan among other countries under Singhal’s leadership.

The VHP leader was also a trained vocalist in Hindustani music, who had his training from the legendary Pandit Omkarnath Thakur.

As RSS Pracharak, he remained a bachelor.

Singhal’s demise is ‘deep personal loss’, says PM

New Delhi

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.

BJP, RSS leaders condole Singhal’s death

New Delhi

A number of leaders including Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, former deputy prime minister L K Advani and BJP President Amit Shah and ministers today condoled VHP leader Ashok Singhal’s demise.

Advani said he had visited Singhal only today and is shocked at his demise. He said Singhal remained international working president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad for over 20 years and was the chief architect of the Ramjanmabhoomi movement.

“I have had the privilege of interacting with him on a number of occasions. He was a man of sound knowledge and committed ideals. I mourn Shri Ashok Singhal’s passing away.

May the departed soul rest in peace,” he said in his message.

Expressing deep condolences, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan described him as a “modern saint” and said, “in his death, we have lost a saint-like person.”

She said he worked hard to set up VHP and expand it nation-wide and helped bring all religious leaders on one platform to create harmony.

“His death is a big loss to social and religious fields.

His entire life was dedicated to the service of the nation and society and he had immense contribution to all sections, especially the poor,” she said.

In his condolence message, BJP President Amit Shah said despite having born in a prosperous family, he gave up everything in his youth and took to the service of the nation.

“His entire life was dedicated to Mother India. It is an irreparable loss to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, VHP and the entire nation,” he said.

In their condolence message, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and his deputy Suresh Bhayyaji Joshi said in Singhal’s demise the entire Hindu community in the world has suffered a big loss.

“Ashok Singhalji’s sad demise is a great loss, he was a fearless personality respected by all,” Bhagwat said in Kannur

In a joint statement, the two RSS leaders said, “Through Vishwa Hindu Parishad, he uplifted the Hindu community and awakened its pride. He earned respect from all saints. He was well-versed with the fundamentals of Hindu philosophy and that was reflected in his words and actions. His leadership role in Hindu awakening in independent India would be remembered.”

BJP Spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi also paid rich tributes to the VHP patron and said he was an institution who dedicated his entire life to the country, society and organisation.

“His contribution towards uplift the poor, dalits and tribals besides the under-privileged was immense. He will remain an inspiration for many generations.”

Terming it a “personal loss”, Union minister Ananth Kumar said, “India has lost a glorious son, whose contribution to nationalism will remain the guiding lamp to many of us” and said his contribution will keep inspiring millions.

Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan paid rich tributes to Singhal and expressed his condolences over his demise.

Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu said Singhal “devoted his entire life for the cause and unity of Hindus. He has taken unity and welfare of Hindu Dharma as his life mission. It is a great loss to the country.” PTI SKC