(Image source from: Rural Development Minister Gopinath Munde killed in road accident})
Senior BJP leader and Union Minister of Rural Development, Gopinath Munde is no more. The 64-year-old politician, who was sworn-into Modi's new government a little over a week ago, was killed in a road accident this morning.
Gopinath Munde was en route to the IGI airport along with his convoy, when an Indica hit his car from the side, toppling it down at Prithviraj road-Tughlak road. Munde, who was seated at the back of his SX4 suffered no external injuries but intense internal injuries and was rushed to AIIMS by his driver and personal assistant. He was declared dead at 7.20 a.m.
Munde had no pulse, no cardiac activity and had stopped breathing when he arrived at the trauma center of AIIMS. A hypertensive patient and a diabetic, all efforts by the CPR team to revive Munde failed. His body has been shifted to the morgue for postmortem. The reason of his death will be clear after autopsy.
Munde's cremation will be held tomorrow at his village Parli in Beed district of Maharashtra.
Post autopsy, his body will be taken to the BJP headquarters in New Delhi for other leaders to pay their final tribute. Munde's family is already on its way from Maharashtra to New Delhi.
Meanwhile, the Delhi police has arrested the driver of Indica and a probe has been ordered.
Five times MLA and two times MP, Munde was one of the most popular grassroot politicians in Maharashtra. He was a major OBC leader of the Vanjari caste. Munde forayed into politics almost by accident after he met the late Pramod Mahajan, also his brother-in-law, in college. He had worked with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and later with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Lauded for his flair for complex political strategy and massive mass following, Munde was one of the few leaders capable of taking opposition heads on. It was Munde who transformed Maharashtra from a largely upper caste party to one with a OBC and other lower castes party. His loss comes as a big blow for the BJP and the newly formed government.
Reacting to the tragic loss, politicians across the divide are expressing shock and disbelief in the sudden loss. Here's what some of them said.
PM Narendra Modi: Extremely saddened and shocked by the demise of my friend and colleague Gopinath Munde ji. His demise is a major loss for the nation and the government. He was a true mass leader.
Rajnath Singh: I am deeply shocked. Munde was a grassroot leader. His death is an irreparable loss to the BJP
Shashi Tharoor: Shocking news of demise of Gopinath Munde at his political peak. Sincere condolences to Munde family, BJP and his government colleagues.
Vice President Hamid Ansari: We've lost a distinguished public servant. I Convey my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family
Digvijay Singh: I am shocked. Munde was a personal friend and a great leader.
Sushma Swaraj: I am shocked to know about sudden demise of my senior colleague Shri Gopinath Munde. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
Pritish Nandy: Sad. Gopinath Munde. Can't claim his friendship but he was a decent man. Readying to contest for Maharashtra's CM job.
Mahesh Bhatt: Tragic! Gopinath Munde, a fine human being & leader has 'passed away'. The Nation mourns his loss.
AW: Suchorita Choudhury
