BJP leader Khandelwal dies

New Delhi, Oct 6 (PTI) Senior Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) leader and Rajya Sabha member Pyarelal Khandelwal died
here today following a cardiac arrest at AIIMS.

Khandelwal, 84, was suffering from cancer and
age-related ailments. He was shifted to AIIMS (All India
Institute of Medical Sciences) from Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital
five days back, party sources said.

He was in the news recently when he wrote a letter to
party President Rajnath Singh criticising the expulsion of
Jaswant Singh from the party for praising Pakistan founder M A
Jinnah in his book.

He had said in the letter that had Atal Bihari Vajpayee
been active in politics this development would not have taken
place.

Khandelwal had defeated former Madhya Pradesh Chief
Minister Digvijay Singh from Rajgarh to enter the Lok Sabha.
He was at present serving his second term in the Upper House
of Parliament (Rajya Sabha).

He had earlier served the party as its national Vice
President and was also a member of the Central Election
Committee. He was a RSS pracharak who had worked extensively
in building and strengthening the party in Madhya Pradesh.

The body will be flown to Bhopal where the last rites
will be performed Tuesday evening. PTI