Chandigarh’s former State president of the BJP and National Council member Jai Ram Joshi breathed his last on Friday after a brief illness.
Joshi was diagnosed suffering from liver cancer on October 28. The problem spread to spine, lymph nodes and femur bones.Joshi (73) is survived by wife and two sons. His elder son Vineet Joshi is currently assistant media advisor to Punjab Government while younger son Saurabh Joshi is city’s Municipal Councilor. His third son, Navneet Joshi, lost his life in 2012 in a road accident.
A RSS worker, Joshi was the founder convenor of Sewa Bharti in Chandigarh. City’s veteran leader was credited with taking party to poor class or labour colonies in Chandigarh and was popularly addressed as Mahatama Gandhi of the labour colonies.
Expressing their grief, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar, and Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia visited the bereaved family. Khattar, remembering Joshi’s simplicity and competent way of working, said that he was the pillar of BJP in Chandigarh.
Expressing profound grief and sorrow, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal described Joshi as a sincere and committed leader of his party, who worked relentlessly to strengthen the rank and file of BJP in the region besides working hard to ameliorate the lot of poor and disadvantaged sections of the society.
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal also mourned the passing away of Joshi who described him as a grass root leader of BJP who worked tirelessly to strengthen his party.Punjab BJP president Kamal Sharma, in his condolence message, said that Joshi was a true eloquent debater, a patriot and a nationalist. “I convey my deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to Joshi family and pray the almighty to give you all the strength and courage to bear the tragic loss,” he said.
Punjab Cabinet Ministers Anil Joshi, Daljit Singh Cheema, Sikander Singh Maluka, Tota Singh, among others too shared their heartfelt sympathies with the members of bereaved family.