New Delhi/Lucknow: BJP leader and VHP functionary Kameshwar Chaupal, who laid the first brick for the Ayodhya Ram temple's construction during a 1989 ceremony, has died after prolonged illness.
He breathed his last at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi, according to information provided by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra's media centre.
Expressing deep sorrow at Chaupal's passing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described him as an "abiding devotee of Lord Ram".
भाजपा के वरिष्ठ नेता और राम जन्मभूमि तीर्थ क्षेत्र ट्रस्ट के ट्रस्टी कामेश्वर चौपाल जी के निधन से अत्यंत दुख हुआ है। वे एक अनन्य रामभक्त थे, जिन्होंने अयोध्या में राम मंदिर के निर्माण में बहुमूल्य योगदान दिया। दलित पृष्ठभूमि से आने वाले कामेश्वर जी समाज के वंचित समुदायों के… pic.twitter.com/pmqXNvvqfr
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 7, 2025
He made a valuable contribution to the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Modi said.
Chaupal will also be remembered for his work for the deprived sections of society, he said, noting that the BJP leader hailed from the Dalit community.
A member of the Ram temple trust, Chaupal had been suffering from kidney ailment for a long time.
Hailing from Patna, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader laid the first brick during the inaugural foundation stone-laying ceremony for the temple in November 1989, the trust said.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had bestowed on him the title of "first Kar Sevak", it added.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also expressed grief at Chaupal's passing, hailing him as a "great Ram devotee".
विश्व हिंदू परिषद के केंद्रीय उपाध्यक्ष, श्री राम जन्मभूमि तीर्थ क्षेत्र न्यास के सदस्य एवं 9 नवम्बर 1989 को आयोजित ऐतिहासिक शिलान्यास समारोह में पूज्य संत गण की उपस्थिति में श्री राम जन्मभूमि मंदिर निर्माण की प्रथम शिला रखने वाले परम राम भक्त श्री कामेश्वर चौपाल जी का निधन…
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) February 7, 2025
He said in a post on X, "The passing of Kameshwar Chaupal ji, central vice-president of the VHP, member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, and a great Ram devotee, who laid the first stone for the construction of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in the presence of revered seers at the historic foundation stone-laying ceremony held on November 9, 1989, is extremely sad."
"His entire life was dedicated to religious and social work. Humble tributes to him! I pray to Lord Shri Ram to give a place to the departed soul in his lotus feet and provide strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense loss," Adityanath further said in the post in Hindi.
विश्व हिंदू परिषद के केंद्रीय उपाध्यक्ष, बिहार प्रांत के माननीय अध्यक्ष, श्री राम जन्मभूमि के तीर्थ क्षेत्र के न्यासी, दो बार के सांसद व श्री रामलला के मंदिर की प्रथम ईंट रखने वाले श्री कामेश्वर चौपाल जी का निधन बेहद दुखद और स्तब्ध करने वाला है। हम सब उनकी दिवंगत पुण्यात्मा की… pic.twitter.com/sex497o9z2
— Vishva Hindu Parishad -VHP (@VHPDigital) February 7, 2025
The VHP called Chaupal's passing "deeply saddening and shocking".
"We pray to the almighty for peace to his departed soul and strength to his family and loved ones in this difficult time," it said in a post on X.
(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)