Acharya Swami Dharmendra passes away after prolonged illness

Acharya was under treatment at the Sawai Man Singh Government Hospital in Jaipur from August 28. He was put on ‘ventilator support’ as his health deteriorated and eventually died Monday morning.

Jaipur (Rajasthan): Prominent mythological storyteller Acharya Dharmendra breathed his last at the ICU of Sawai Mansingh Hospital in Jaipur on Monday. Dharmendra passed away at the age of 80.

According to the SMS Hospital sources, Acharya was under treatment at the Sawai Man Singh Government Hospital in Jaipur from August 28. He was put on ‘ventilator support’ as his health deteriorated and eventually died Monday morning.

The Octogenarian Acharya played an important role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement at Ayodhya. He was a member of Vishwa Hindu Parishad Margdarshak Mandal. Acharya Dharmendra was among those religious leaders who took an active part in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. He joined hands with senior BJP leaders including LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and late Kalyan Singh during the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation.

Acharya Dharmendra always hogged headlines for his controversial remarks. A few years ago, while attending a religious gathering at Mrityunjay Ashram in Amarkantak, Bilaspur, he made a controversial statement on Mahatma Gandhi. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while talking over the phone, enquired about his health and well-being.

Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat condoled his demise. Mishra prayed for the peace of his virtuous soul and strength to the bereaved families in this hour of grief.

“‘Acharya Dharmendra Ji Maharaj, a devotee of Lord Shri Ram, has left for heavenly abode. He played a major role in the Ram temple construction movement. This is an irreparable loss to the entire society,” Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said in a tweet.