Union Rural Development Minister Gopinath Munde died in capital New Delhi this morning. He was 64. He suffered a cardiac arrest following a road accident while on his way to the airport.
His car was hit by another vehicle at Prithviraj road-Tughlak road roundabout in the capital. Immediately after the accident Munde was brought to All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Spokesperson of AIIMS told reporters later that despite resuscitative measures, Munde could not be revived and was declared dead at 7:20 AM today.
His body is being taken to IGI Airport for being flown to Mumbai where it will be kept at BJP state headquarters for people to pay their last respects. Cremation will take place at his native place in Beed district tomorrow evening.
Earlier, Munde's body was kept at the BJP headquarters in the city where Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several leaders including L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Venkaiah Naidu, Arun Jaitely, Nitin Gadkari, Ananth Kumar, Prakash Javdekar and Ram Vilas Paswan paid floral tributes to the departed leader.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, NCP president Sharad Pawar, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat also reached the BJP office to offer tributes. Wreaths were also laid on the body on behalf of President Pranab Mukherjee and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Munde's family members including his daughters and son-in-law are also present in the party office.
President, Vice President and Prime Minister have expressed grief over the sudden demise of Munde. In his message, President Pranab Mukherjee said, Munde's passing away is a huge loss for the people of Maharashtra and country at large. In his death, people have lost a veteran leader who always worked for the common man.
Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari said, that Munde was amongst the most prominent political leaders of Maharashtra who had a long and illustrious public life. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Munde as a true mass leader, who rose to great heights and tirelessly served people. Expressing grief over the death of Munde, Congress President Sonia Gandhi conveyed her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
National flag will be flown at halfmast in Delhi and capitals of the states and Union Territories today as a mark of respect to the departed leader. A statement issued by Home Ministry said that the national flag will also be flown at half mast tomorrow at the place of cremation.
AIR correspondent reports, Union Cabinet is meeting this evening to condole death of Gopinath Munde.
