Senior BJP leader Om Prakash Kohli passes away; PM Modi, Rajnath Singh condole the death

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed condolences over the demise of former Governor of Gujarat Om Prakash Kohli. He was aged 87.

"He played a key role in strengthening our Party in Delhi. As MP and Governor, he focused on issues of public welfare. He was also passionate about the education sector," the PM tweeted.

The news of Kohli's passing away was announced by his granddaughter Karnika Kohli. "My grandfather Shri Om Prakash Kohli, former governor of Gujarat and Raja Sabha MP, has passed away. His funeral will be held at 11:30 am tomorrow at Nigam Bodh Ghat in New Delhi," she said on Twitter.

Who was OP Kohli?
Om Prakash Kohli was the Governor of Gujarat from 2014 to 2019. Before that had served as the president of the Delhi unit of BJP from 1999 to 2000 and was also a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1994 to 2000.

He had been the president of the Delhi University Teacher's Association (DUTA) and of the ABVP. He studied at Ramjas School and Khalsa School, New Delhi. Kohli was a Master of Arts in Hindi from the University of Delhi and a lecturer at Hansraj College and Deshbandhu College for over 37 years. He was arrested under MISA during the Emergency.

Condolences Pour in
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that Kohli earned respect from his efficiency and scholarship. He tweeted, "Shri OP Kohliji in his long public life earned a lot of respect for his efficiency and scholarship. He was the Governor of Gujarat and also played an effective role in strengthening the BJP in Delhi. I am deeply saddened by his demise. May God give strength to his family,"

Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel tweeted, "Condolences on the passing away of former Governor of Gujarat Om Prakash Kohliji. He will always be remembered for his easy-going personality and his contributions to the field of education. May God rest his soul and give strength to his relatives to bear this sorrow. Om Shanti!"

Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari recalled that the senior BJP leader lived a life as a dedicated activist towards ideology and organization.

Gadkari wrote, "He has lived a life as a dedicated activist towards ideology and organization. He has an important contribution in strengthening the party and the organization. Along with being an educationist, politician, Kohli ji has also been a good writer. May God give peace to the departed soul and give strength to the family members. Om Shanti," wrote