Prakash Singh Badal: Chautala family expressed grief, Abhay Singh said- 'The head of our family was former CM

The Chautala family of Haryana, which has close ties with the Badal family, has expressed grief over the death of Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal. Senior Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhay Singh Chautala said on Tuesday that he was the head of our family.

INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala's younger son Abhay Singh Chautala said, "We are in a state of shock and deep sorrow over his demise. For the past five decades, Sardar Parkash Singh Badal had an unbreakable bond with our family."

Badal was close to former Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal

The Chautalas and Badals are two powerful political families of Haryana and Punjab with long-standing ties, as the Badals were close friends of former Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal, known as "Tau" Devi Lal. Even after Devi Lal's death two decades ago, the relationship between the two families grew stronger. Badal was also a close friend of former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala.

Badal also attended Digvijay Singh Chautala's pre-wedding function

In March, Badal attended the pre-wedding function of Jannayak Janata Party leader Digvijay Singh Chautala in Sirsa. Digvijay Chautala is the brother of Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala. Devilal's great-grandson Dushyant Chautala said Badal's death was an irreparable loss to the country.

Dushyant Chautala said that Badal always showers his blessings on the family. Devi Lal's grandson Abhay Singh Chautala called the Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch a "messiah of farmers". He said that the demise of Badal was an irreparable loss not only to the family but also to the farming community and the country.

Abhay Singh postponed Parivartan Padyatra

Abhay Singh said he would go to Chandigarh on Wednesday along with Om Prakash Chautala to pay homage to Badal. Because of Badal's death, the programs of Om Prakash Chautala's district-level meetings and Abhay Singh Chautala's "Parivartan Padyatra" have been postponed till Thursday. Abhay Singh Chautala said that Badal Saheb always worked for the betterment of farmers, laborers, Dalits, and deprived sections.

The INLD leader said that Devi Lal and Badal together fought a long struggle to save the country's democratic system. He said that during the Emergency, my grandfather Chaudhary Devi Lal and Sardar Parkash Singh Badal were jailed for 19 months.

Known for his humility and strong rural roots, the former Chief Minister of Punjab passed away on Tuesday. He was 95 years old. Badal, who had been keeping unwell for some time, was admitted to Fortis Hospital in Mohali a week ago after he complained of breathlessness.

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