Jitender Singh Shunty
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Padma Shri Jitender Singh Shunty | |
|---|---|
 Jitender Singh Shunty and President Ram Nath Kovind | |
| Member of Delhi Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 2013–2015 | |
| Preceded by | Narender Nath |
| Succeeded by | Ram Niwas Goel |
| Constituency | Shahdara |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 August 1962 |
| Party | Aam Aadmi Party |
| Awards | Padma Shree Awardee |
Jitender Singh Shunty (born 1 August 1962), is an Indian politician and social worker. Shunty was elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly from Shahdara from Bhartiya Janta Party in 2013.[1][2][3] He is the founder of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Seva Dal, an NGO that helps to cremate unclaimed bodies and immerse the ashes as guided by the Hindu and Sikh religion.[4][5][6] It all started after an incident in 1996 at a crematorium.[7]
Jitender Singh Shunty founded the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Seva Dal in 1996.[4] He started his career in politics as an independent councillor from Jhilmil ward in Delhi. However, he became a part of the BJP in 2008 and contested the councillor elections from Jhilmil ward of the East municipal corporation and won the elections.[8] He contested his first Delhi Assembly election in 2013,[1] and won from the Shahdara constituency with 45,364 votes.[8]
In September 2014, an unidentified gunman shot at him but missed. Shunty had been reportedly attacked twice before this in 2013 and 2007.[8][9][10] The incident happened at his residence in Vivek Vihar in Delhi.[11][12] In December 2018, Shunty filed an FIR against actor Nasiruddin Shah for his statement saying that he was worried about the security of his children in India.[13] In 2021, Jitender Singh Shunty received India's prestigious award Padma Shri for his services during Covid crises.[14][15][16] Jitender Singh Shunty dedicates his Padma Shri Award to fellow frontline workers.[17]