Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Member of Parliament from Bilaspur parliamentary constituency Dilip Singh Judeo died on Wednesday after prolonged illness at Medanta Hospital Gurgaon where he was undergoing treatment for some time. His condition became critical on Wednesday morning and he breathed his last in the evening at the age of 64.
He is survived by his spouse and two sons. Born in Jashpur royal family on March 8, 1949, Judeo was known as an ardent follower of Hindu religion and a reformist by soul as his reconversion programme (Ghar Vapsi) made waves throughout central India.
In BJP, too, he held a distinct place as there was virtually no match for him, political stature wise, in Jashpur area where he started his political career in 1978 when he became chairman of Jashpur Nagarpalika. In 1988, he won by-poll from Kharasia Assembly seat. He was elected as Member of Parliament in 1989 and remained member of lok sabha till 1991. From 1992 to 1998 Judeo remained Member of Rajya Sabha from Chhattisgarh.
In 2003, he was made minister of state for environment in Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government at the centre. This was time when he suffered perhaps the most embarrassing moment of his political career in terms of CD scandal showing him taking bribe. But he again bounced back in 2009 and was elected Member of Parliament from Bilaspur constituency as BJP candidate by defeating Congress nominee Dr Renu Jogi, spouse of Congress leader and Chhattisgarh's former chief minister Ajit Jogi.
His untimely death has sent a pal of gloom not only in his hometown Jashpur, but to the entire political spectrum of Chhattisgarh. The State Government has announced a three-day state mourning, August 16 to 18, whereas his cremation will be performed with full state honours. Cutting across party lines, all BJP leaders and Congress leaders of Chhattisgarh as well as national leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party have condoled the death of Judeo.
Expressing profound grief over the demise of Judeo, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh said that Judeo was a popular, dedicated and active public representative and was immensely popular in his ‘Karma Bhoomi’ (Jashpur). His social service and contribution towards furthering the cause of Hinduism was unparalleled, Singh added.
His staunch supporter and another BJP Rajya Sabha member Nand Kumar Sai said that in the demise of Judeo the state has lost ‘a towering leader and a fighter for the cause of masses’. Former CM Ajit Jogi termed the death of Judeo, ‘a great loss for the State’. Chhattisgarh PCC President Charandas Mahant said that in the death of Judeo he lost ‘a great friend’.