New Delhi, Dec 16: Ram Vilas Vedanti, a prominent leader of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and a former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament, died of a heart attack in Rewa Madhya Pradesh on Monday. He was 67 hospital officials said.
Vedanti had been unwell for some time and was admitted to the Superspecialty Hospital attached to Shyam Shah Medical College on Sunday morning. Doctors said his condition deteriorated rapidly due to septicemia accompanied by a sharp fall in blood pressure and kidney failure.
“When he was admitted he had blood poisoning (septicemia) infection which had spread significantly. His blood pressure had dropped significantly and his kidneys had also stopped functioning” Superspecialty Hospital Superintendent Akshay Srivastava said.
Vedanti suffered a heart attack on Sunday night and was placed on ventilator support but passed away on Monday morning. “Vedanti suffered a heart attack on Sunday night. He was placed on ventilator support. He passed away this morning” Srivastava said.
Hospital authorities said efforts were made to shift him to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bhopal by air ambulance following the cardiac event but the transfer could not be carried out due to poor visibility.
At the time of his death Vedanti was in Rewa district to narrate ‘Katha Bhathwa’ at Lalgaon. Born on October 7, 1958, in Gudhwa (Gudh) village of Rewa district, he rose to prominence as a key figure in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
Vedanti served as the executive president of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust and was elected to the Lok Sabha from Pratapgarh and Machhali Shahar constituencies in Uttar Pradesh.
His disciple Chhote Das Maharaj said the last rites of the senior leader will be performed in Ayodhya.
Leaders from across the political and religious spectrum expressed grief over Vedanti’s demise remembering him for his role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and his contributions to public life.
