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Parkash Singh Badal, the former chief minister of Punjab and Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch, passed away at a private hospital in Mohali on Tuesday. He was 95.
Badal, a five-time chief minister, was admitted to the intensive care unit of private hospital following complaints of breathing difficulties on Sunday.
Mortal remains of Badal will be brought to Akali Dal office in Sector 28 Chandigarh on Wednesday. News agency ANI reported that Centre will declare two days of national mourning following the demise of the SAD patriarch.
A host of leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu, condoled the demise of Badal.
In June last year, Badal was hospitalised following a complaint of gastritis and bronchial asthma. In February last year, he 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.
The SAD was an ally of the ruling BJP but left the saffron party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in September 2020 over the passage of three agri-marketing bills in Parliament. The party also pulled out of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government with the resignation of Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal from the Cabinet.