The Punjab government has announced a public holiday on April 27, 2023, in honour of the former Chief Minister of Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal, who passed away on April 25, 2023, at the age of 95. Parkash Singh Badal was a veteran leader who had served as the Chief Minister of Punjab for five terms and was also a Union Minister in the late 1970s.
As a mark of respect, the Punjab government has declared a one-day state mourning on Thursday, and all government offices, educational institutions, and banks in the state will remain closed. Badal's last rites will be held on Thursday at his ancestral village, Badal, in Muktsar district. The cremation ceremony is expected to be attended by a large number of people, including political leaders, dignitaries, and admirers from across the state.
The news of Badal's death has received an outpouring of condolence messages from politicians cutting across party lines. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann mourned the loss and said the state had lost a towering figure. Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered his decades-long association with Badal and said his death was a personal loss to him.
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The mortal remains of Parkash Singh Badal would be placed in the Akali Dal headquarters for around two hours from 10 am to 12 noon for party leaders and activists to pay homage to the departed soul. Badal leaves behind a grand legacy and a void in the political landscape of Punjab.