As senior RSS leader Brigadier (retd) Jagdish Gagneja breathed his last in ludhiana on Thursday, tributes pour in from political stalwarts, cutting across party lines, while many leaders thronged the Hero DMC Heart Institute to pay homage.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who was in Patna to attend the International Sikh Conclave, issued a statement saying, “It’s a huge loss to the State and the country. Punjab has lost a forceful voice which articulated the concerns of the State and its people while remaining selflessly away from pubic glare and shunning personal glory.”
“All his life, he served the nation in the true traditions of a soldier, maintaining a low profile even while contributing in a most significant way to the welfare of Punjab and Punjabis,” he said.
“We have lost a great champion of Hindu-Sikh unity and communal harmony but the ideals to which he devoted his life would be upheld by the people,” said Badal.
Badal said the attack on Gagneja was an attempt to disturb the hard-earned atmosphere of peace and communal harmony in the state for which he worked hard all his life. “But the designs of those who committed this heinous crime will never be allowed to succeed,” he said. At the same time, he appealed to the people of Punjab to maintain peace and communal harmony in
the state at all costs. “This will be the best and the greatest tribute to the departed leader,” said Badal.
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley tweeted, “Condolences on the sad demise of Prant Sah-sarsanghchalak Brigadier (Retd) Jagdish Gagneja ji. May God render peace to the departed soul.”
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, condoling Gagneja’s death, also tweeted, “I join Punjabis in mourning the demise of RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja who has fallen victim to anti-national forces bent on disturbing peace”.
“Brig Gagneja fought like a true soldier till the end. let us pledge that we will not allow his sacrifice to go waste,” he added.
Aam Aadmi Party’s former Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur also tweeted, “(I) condole the death of RSS leader Brig Jagdish Gagneja….There is no law and order in the state and the government had proved to be complete failure.”
Punjab Congress’ former president and Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa tweeted: “My deepest condolences to the family of senior RSS leader Brig (retd) Jagdish Gagneja.May the departed soul rest in peace.”
Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, also expressing deep grief, termed Gagneja’s demise as a big setback to Punjab and the country. “Gagneja’s services to the nation as a true soldier of the soil would always be remembered,” he said.
Punjab BJP’s former chief Kamal Sharma, appealing the people of the state to maintain communal harmony, said that attack on Gagneja was a planned act of certain anti-India forces who are hell-bent to create communal tension in Punjab.
Appreciating Gagneja for his contribution in the development of society, Sharma said that his loss was surely a setback not only for the RSS family but to the state as well.
BJP MlA Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, terming the delay in nabbing assailants as a failure of the Punjab Government, and the police, termed Brig Gagneja as a “father figure” for her.