The founder of Hindu Munnani outfit Ramagopalan has passed away on Wednesday at the age of 94 in Chennai due to the COVID-19 viral infection, becoming one of the notable faces to get succumbed to the global pandemic. 

According to reports, Ramagopalan had recently developed difficulty in breathing and he was admitted to Sri Ramachandra Medical Center in Porur, Chennai four days ago. He had undergone COVID-19 testing and his result returned positive for the viral infection following which he was getting treated under isolation. 

Amid the treatment, his health had deteriorated and he breathed his last on Wednesday at the age of 94 due to the global pandemic. According to the spokesperson of the outfit, Ramagopalan was getting treated for breathlessness for a long time. The spokesperson further stated that the leader had undergone COVID-19 testing three months ago and he was tested negative for the viral infection.

However, the founder has confirmed to have contracted to the viral infection recently and he had now succumbed to the pandemic. After news of his demise broke out, state political leaders have been expressing their condolences to the deceased leader. In his obituary note, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami said, "It's pained and saddening to learn the news of the demise of Hindu Munnani founder Rajagopalan. I express my condolences to the grieving members of the outfit and I pray to the almighty God that his soul may rest in peace". 

இந்து முன்னணி அமைப்பின் நிறுவனர் திரு.இராம.கோபாலன் அவர்கள் மறைவெய்திய செய்தி மிகுந்த அதிர்ச்சியும், வேதனையும் அளிக்கிறது.

திரு.இராம.கோபாலன் அவர்களது பிரிவால்வாடும் அவரது இயக்கத் தொண்டர்களுக்கு எனது ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கலைத் தெரிவித்து, அன்னாரது ஆன்மா சாந்தியடைய இறைவனை பிரார்த்திக்கிறேன். pic.twitter.com/2WnIwz16J7

— Edappadi K Palaniswami (@CMOTamilNadu) September 30, 2020

Deputy Chief Minister Paneerselvam had expressed his condolences to the grieving members and bereaving family over the demise of Ramagopalan. DMK President MK Stalin and Tamil Nadu BJP President L Murugan had paid their tributes to the deceased leader.  Ramagopalan founded Hindu Munnani in Tamil Nadu in the 1980s. 

He established the outfit following the religious conversions near Tenkasi. According to reports, around 200 Dalit families had converted to Islam on February 19, 1981, in Tenkasi due to continuous caste oppression and practice of untouchability. The reports stated that the conversion had drawn nationwide attention and national BJP leaders including former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had visited the village. 

Following the conversions, Ramagopalan had launched Hindu Munnani. According to the outfit, it follows the ideologies of Hindutva, nationalism, and conservatism. The outfit has popularly been known for organizing Vinayaka Chaturthi procession in the state. The outfit had conducted Vinayaka Chaturthi for the first time in Triplicane, Chennai about 37 years ago and it has become a traditional event of the outfit.

Following the demise of Ramagopalan, state political leaders and members of various Hindu outfits have been paying tribute to the departed leader.