Ashok Singhal, International President of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) passed away at Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon on Tuesday. He was admitted to the hospital on November 14 after his health deteriorated.
Singhal’s body will be brought to the RSS office in Jandewalan in Central Delhi on Tuesday night.
The 89-year-old, who was admitted to Medanta Medicity Hospital on October 20 after 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.
Singhal’s mortal remains will be kept in Delhi till 3 pm on Wednesday for the public to pay homage after which it will be cremated in the Nigambodh ghat in Delhi, Togadia said.
He was flown into the national capital in an air ambulance and was discharged only two days ago.
Singh was in the Intensive Care Unit under treatment after he was diagnosed with right lower lobe pneumonia. He was on ventilator from the evening pf November 14.
A metallurgy engineering graduate from the 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.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)