Senior BJP leader J P Mathur passes away

New Delhi, Oct 20: Senior BJP leader and former Rajya Sabha MP J P Mathur died at a local hospital early this morning after a protracted battle with cancer.

Mathur, 86, was being treated for the disease at various hospitals. The end came at around 0500 hrs this morning at the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, where he had been admitted a few days earlier.

Among the founding members of the BJP, via the Jan Sangh, he had a life long association with the RSS since he joined as a pracharak in 1945.

Considered close to party stalwart L K Advani, he held various posts in the party and had close relations with journalists ever since he headed the party's Media Cell.

Born on November 9, 1921 in Bijnaur district in Uttar Pradesh, Mathur was a member of Rajya Sabha thrice and also served as the party's deputy leader in the upper house.

He was unmarried.

UNI