On the sixth death anniversary of former MP Gurdas Singh Badal, his son and former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, a senior BJP leader, on Thursday posted an emotional video as a tribute to him, calling him not just his father but also his strength, leader and a great mentor.
Notably, Gurdas Singh Badal, known as Das Badal, had passed away at the age of 88 following a cardiac arrest on the midnight of May 14, 2020.
Gurdas had unsuccessfully contested the Assembly elections from Lambi against his elder brother and former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in 2012.
However, the ties between Parkash Singh Badal, who was fondly called Pash by his friends and contemporaries, and Gurdas known as Das remained intact even after the elections, and they continued to meet frequently.
They were even known as ‘Pash te Das di jodi’, as Gurdas had always played the role of election manager for his elder brother.
Meanwhile, in his 2.39-minute video today, Manpreet said he was thankful to his father for ensuring that he studied at top educational institutions in India and London.
“My father was a true friend to his friends and never disappointed anyone. He would go to any extent for his friends and even spent a large portion of his income on the public,” said Manpreet.
He also recalled the bond between his father and his uncle, former CM Parkash Singh Badal. “Their bonding was an example of love and loyalty, which is an example in Punjab. Das ji mentored several leaders and ministers, but never sought anything for himself. I promise his friends that I will always try to keep Das ji’s bond with everyone alive.”
Gurdas Badal had won the Lok Sabha election from Fazilka in 1971. Before this, he served as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) from March 1967 to April 1969. He also served as the director of the Marketing Federation, Punjab.
