Former BJP MP and senior journalist Ashwini Chopra passed away at a private hospital in Gurgaon on Saturday after a prolonged illness. He was 63.
Suffering from ''terminal cancer'', Chopra had been admitted to the Medanta Hospital about three weeks ago.
He passed away in the afternoon. He is survived by wife, three sons and two grandsons.
The media baron-turned journalist was elected as an MP from Karnal, Haryana, in 2014. He was the editor of Punjab Kesari, Delhi.
Popularly known as ''Minna'', he was a promising cricketer in his youth. Chopra leaves behind his wife and three children.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, and Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh amongst others condoled the passing away of the former parliamentarian.
"Learnt about the sad demise of former BJP MP from Karnal and Editor of Punjab Kesari, Delhi, Ashwini Chopra," Khattar tweeted.
"Your life as an able politician and a successful journalist will continue to guide us all."
In his message, Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram termed passing away of Chopra as a great loss to the journalistic fraternity as he was a distinguished editor, besides the social worker and a parliamentarian.
Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh recalled the services rendered by the senior journalist, who had always proactively championed the cause of freedom of press.
With the demise of Ashwini Kumar a void had been created in the field of journalism, which was difficult to be filled, he added.
Describing Ashwini Minna as a gentleman politician and a distinguished journalist, the Chief Minister said the former MP had been consistently raising the issues of Punjab’s overall development and welfare of all sections of the society in the esteemed columns of his newspaper, always striving to uphold the ethics of journalism.
His prayers were with the family in their hour of grief, he added.