Senior journalist and renowned expert on international affairs Ved Pratap Vaidik died on Tuesday morning. He was 78.
”The senior journalist fainted in the bathroom at his Gurugram house in the morning and was taken to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead,” his private assistant Mohan told PTI.
He added that Vaidik was healthy in general and had even gone to Delhi on Monday.
”The doctors have suspected heart attack to be the possible cause of death,” Mohan said. Vaidik worked with the Press Trust of India (PTI) for a decade as the Founder-Editor of its Hindi news agency ‘Bhasha’. He also held the position of editor (views) at Navbharat Times of the Times Group.
He was also the last chairperson of Bharatiya Bhasha Sammelan, an organisation working to protect the rights of Indian languages.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid tributes to the veteran journalist on his official Twitter handle. ”Shri Ved Pratap Vaidik ji was a fierce journalist and columnist who used to express his opinion on contemporary issues through his writings. He also had a deep hold on national and international subjects. His demise has left a void in Hindi journalism. My condolences to his family. Om Shanti,” Singh tweeted in Hindi.
In a tweet in Hindi, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, ”I am shocked by the news of the demise of senior journalist, writer-intellectual and my good friend Ved Pratap Vaidik ji.” ”Vaidik ji was well-versed in the affairs of Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. We used to talk about these issues often. I express my condolences to the bereaved family,” Ramesh said.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan also tweeted paying condolences.
”Received the sad news of the demise of senior journalist Dr. Ved Pratap Vaidik ji.
I pray to God to grant the departed soul a place in his holy feet and strength to the family members to bear this deep sorrow. Om Shanti,” Chauhan wrote.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said Vaidik’s death was a loss to Hindi journalism.
”Chief Minister Shri @bhupeshbaghel expressed deep condolences on the sudden demise of senior journalist. He said that Vaidik ji was a moving school of journalism. His demise has caused irreparable loss to Hindi journalism,” the Chhattisgarh chief minister’s office tweeted. Union minister Nitin Gadkari said Vaidik was a fearless journalist.
”My heartfelt tribute to senior journalist Ved Pratap Vaidik ji. He will always be remembered as a fearless journalist. He was a good friend of mine personally, his demise is a great loss to the journalism world. May god give peace to the departed soul and give strength to the family members. Om Shanti,” he said. Vaidik is survived by a son and a daughter.
