The journalist & BJP MP who could befriend ‘Naxal, Congressman’ with equal ease

Shri Balbir Punj Ji was a prolific writer, thinker and public intellectual. He made a rich contribution to the world of media. His writings were widely read, reflecting his strong passion towards national regeneration. His Parliamentary interventions were rich in facts and… pic.twitter.com/ZVsZ9Np8Iv

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 18, 2026

Former Rajya Sabha member Rakesh Sinha remembered Punj as an individual who could connect with all thoughts and ideologies.

“Though he echoed the (Rashtriya Swayamsevak) Sangh’s views, Balbir ji was very much democratic in his approach. He could befriend a Naxal, a socialist, a Congressman, and a BJP partyman without discriminating amongst them,” Sinha told ThePrint.

He lauded Punj for displaying political courage and unafraid for being unpopular for pursuing policies that were largely regarded as fundamentally right. “Even after becoming a Rajya Sabha member, he knew where he really belonged and continued steadfast in the pursuit of improving the country and defending a school of thought that he represented,” Sinha added.

That the Prime Minister offered his condolences posting a previous photograph of theirs together, Sinha said, was reflective of Punj’s contribution to the party.

For P. Muralidhar Rao from Telangana’s BJP who knew him personally, Punj was a true Punjabi at heart, a thorough host who could enliven an evening with stimulating conversations over food and drink.

“Guru (S Gurumurthy), Balbir ji and I were a trio, although Balbir Ji was my senior in Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. The three of us used to often visit him at his residence in Delhi and have long conversations about everything under the sun,” Muralidhar Rao told ThePrint.

Rao recalled how he used to access Punj’s closeness to BJP stalwarts L.K. Advani and Atal Bihari Vajpayee to apprise the veterans about key political developments in southern India.

“In the mid-1980s and early 90s when Andhra Pradesh (united) was in the grip of Naxal violence, I often used to meet Balbir ji and update him about the ongoing events in the state. Though the BJP was in the opposition, it was important that the party took the right stand on these issues.”

Punj, Rao said, used these briefings to write in the many newspapers and periodicals in English, Punjabi, and Hindi.

Punj’s ability as a prolific writer drew him close to many. S.Gurumurthy, editor of Thuglak magazine, was one of them.

Known to be close to Punj, Gurumurthy termed the loss as a personal one. “He was known for his sharp analysis and deep engagement with national issues. He was an influential voice in policy making and in the media,” the RSS ideologue said, recounting the many opportunities and occasions the two often met in New Delhi.

Gurumurthy and senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar remembered Punj’s contribution to reporting the Bofors scam in the late 1980s when Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister.

“He was articulate and was our go-to person for all controversial issues be it the abrogation of the Article 370 in Kashmir, Ram Janmabhoomi issue, or Triple Talaq. His contribution to establishing the ideological foundation of the BJP in many states cannot be missed,” Javadekar told ThePrint.

For successfully doing the BJP’s bidding in Gujarat, Punjab, Kerala, and Himachal Pradesh, Punj was rewarded several times by the party leadership. He was made a national secretary and also the convenor of the intellectual and policy cell.

His easy-going, affable personality and a natural guide to many youngsters in journalism led him to be president of the Delhi Journalist’s Association between 1989 and 1991 and was later the general secretary of the National Union of Journalists from 1993 to 1995.

Punj was an awardee of the Devrishi Narad Samman in 2022. He is survived by his wife Shashi Bala Punj and his daughter Shweta Punj.