BJYM Worker Dies During Seva Sankalp Yatra, PM Modi Expresses Sadness

A 29-year-old worker of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) of Gujarat BJP died after his health deteriorated during the party’s Seva Sankalp Yatra that was carried out from Vadnagar to Varanasi between September 17 and October 7. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to the father of the deceased party worker, expressing his sadness over the demise. Modi also reportedly called the father of the deceased worker to express his sympathies last week. The party worker, Vrajesh Pavagadhi, was part of the Seva Sankalp Yatra from Vadnagar to Varanasi that was organised to mark 25 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in public office. The yatra was flagged off by Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Amit Shah in the presence of many senior leaders of the BJP and its allies. Party sources said that Pavagadhi was not well, but joined the yatra without informing the party out of his enthusiasm. “Before the yatra, he was not well and had a fever. He was taking medicines. During the yatra too, he kept taking medicines. His health had deteriorated in Madhya Pradesh and was shifted to a private hospital in Bhopal . From Bhopal, he was airlifted to a hospital in Ahmedabad and we tried our best to provide him with the best medical treatment. However, the infection he had got had spread to his brain and he died of bacterial meningitis in the intervening night of October 12-13,” said a party office bearer, who was part of the yatra accompanying Vrajesh, on the condition of anonymity. Vrajesh’s father Mahesh said, “Before the Seva Sankalp Yatra, Vrajesh had fever. But he took it very casually and did not get (medical) tests done, instead took medicines from a medical store and doctor.”