New Delhi, June 3 (IANS) The week-old Narendra Modi government was dealt a blow Tuesday when Gopinath Munde, a senior minister who looked after three portfolios, including rural development, died after an early morning road accident in central Delhi.<br /> <br /><br />Munde, 64, a senior BJP leader who was once Maharashtra's deputy chief minister, was going to the Indira Gandhi International Airport to catch a flight to Mumbai when his driver jumped the red light and was hit by a Tata Indica on the Prithviraj Road five-point crossing around 6.20 a.m., informed sources told IANS. <br /><br />However, there was no official confirmation that the driver jumped the signal. <br /><br />Munde's personal security officer (PSO) Surender Nayar was sitting in the front next to the driver, Virender Kumar, and the minister was seated behind him. <br /><br />The Tata Indica skidded over 30 feet and hit Munde's Maruti Suzuki SX4 with great force on the side where he was seated. <br /><br />Due to the force of the impact, Munde fell down and was helped to sit up by his PSO. Munde asked for water and told his driver to rush him to hospital before losing consciousness.<br /><br />Police said the Indica car driver, Gurvinder Singh, 32, made a call to police that a red-beacon car had hit his vehicle and had fled the spot. <br /><br />Police said when they reached the spot, Singh was found to be standing near his car whose bonnet was damaged.<br /><br />AIIMS public relations officer Amit Gupta said: "Munde was brought to the emergency department of Jai Prakash Narain Apex Trauma Centre, AIIMS at 6:30 a.m. by his personal assistant and driver."<br /><br />Gupta said they found "no blood pressure, no pulse, no cardiac activity" and immediately started cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)". Doctors finally declared Munde dead at 7.20 a.m. <br /><br />"There were no grievous external injuries. It seems he had a cardiac arrest after the impact," he said, indicating the minister may have died of shock caused by the accident and internal injuries. <br /><br />Munde was a diabetic and hypertension patient. <br /><br />N.K. Mehra, acting director, AIIMS, told IANS: "Munde's viscera report is also being preserved because his personal assistant informed us that the minister complained of uneasiness in the morning before leaving his house."<br /><br />Mehra also said that one external injury was found on his nose. "He had multiple internal injuries," he said, adding that a detailed post mortem report will be released Wednesday.<br /><br />Additional Commissioner of Police S.B.S. Tyagi said that the Indica driver had been arrested. <br /><br />"Prima facie it was found that minister's car had crossed two-third of the signal but we are yet to confirm whose vehicle was at fault. As there are no CCTVs at the spot we are taking time to verify the facts."<br /><br />A minister's aide told IANS that many ministers tell their drivers to drive fast if they are getting late and on many occasions jump the red light.<br /><br />Police, while opposing the driver's bail, said that the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Special Cell are investigating to find out any possible conspiracy behind the incident and sought Gurvinder's custody. But the Delhi court rejected their demand and granted him bail on a personal bond of Rs.30,000 and like amount of security bond.<br /><br />Munde's death came a day after his name was mentioned as a contender for the post of Maharashtra chief minister after the assembly elections this year.<br /><br />A farmer's son, Munde was adept at building bridges with other parties and became the foremost BJP leader in Maharashtra after the sudden death of his brother-in-law, party strongman Pramod Mahajan in May 2006.<br /><br />One of the first to be informed of the tragedy, Prime Minister Modi described Munde as "a true mass leader" and said he was "extremely saddened and shocked" by the minister's death. <br /><br />Besides rural development, Munde also held the portfolios of panchayati raj as well as drinking water and sanitation - all crucial portfolios from the perspective of rural India. <br /><br />Following a post mortem, the body was brought to the BJP headquarters at Ashoka Road. It was accompanied by senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari and members of Munde's immediate family who had rushed to the capital after hearing the news.<br /><br />As a mark of respect to Munde, the national flag was flown at half-mast in the national capital, capitals of states and union territories Tuesday, the government announced. <br /><br />The cabinet, chaired by Modi, later passed a resolution condoling Munde's death.<br /><br />Parliamentary Affairs minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said : "The cabinet passed a resolution and observed national mourning today (Tuesday). Tomorrow the cremation will be held in his native place (Beed in Maharashtra) with full state honours." <br /><br />At the BJP headquarters, there were many with moist eyes as senior leaders, including Modi, L.K. Advani, Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar and Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav paid tributes. <br /><br />Munde is survived by his wife, who is Mahajan's sister, and three daughters. <br /><br />President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi were among those who expressed grief at his death.
Lakshadweep Vs Maldives: Amitabh Bachchan stunned by his comment on Lakshadweep, said- 'Don't harm our self-reliance'
The issue of dispute between Lakshadweep and Maldives is heated. Till now, from films to the cricket world, many celebs have shown their support for Lakshadweep. A new name Amitabh Bachchan has been
Coal ministry eyeing 15-20 blocks for next auction round
New Delhi, March 26 (IANS) The coal ministry is identifying 15-20 blocks for the next - third - round of auction, but cannot give a deadline for completing the process for all 204 blocks whose
Indian Ocean Countries Conference in Odisha
Bhubaneswar, Feb 23 (IANS) To deepen economic ties with the Indian Ocean Rim countries and emphasize on maritime security, India will hold a three-day international conference in Odisha, starting
Knockout-like match for Team India: Bangladesh will clash in Adelaide today, there is a 60% chance of rain
After losing the last match against South Africa, Team India has come in an if-but-button situation in the T20 World Cup. Due to this, the Super-12 Group-2 match against Bangladesh in Adelaide on
Bill and Melinda Gates thank India for Padma Bhushan
New Delhi, Jan 28 (IANS) Philanthropist couple Bill and Melinda Gates Wednesday thanked the Indian government for naming them for Padma Bhushan, one of the country's top civilian honours, saying
BJP will win by comfortable majority: Delhi chief
New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS) The BJP's Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay Sunday said the party will win by a comfortable majority in the Delhi assembly election under the leadership of Kiran
Karnataka: Controversy over announcement of Ganesh puja at Idgah ground, SC hearing in a while, 1600 policemen present
A big controversy has arisen over the permission of Ganesh Puja at Idgah ground in Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka. According to the latest information, a large number of police have been deployed
Delhi Campaign: Flash Mobs, Magic Shows, Street Plays regale voters
New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) The Delhi assembly poll campaign has been one of the most boisterous and keenly fought with political parties resorting to new and innovative methods of campaigning with
UP Election 2022: Women of 150 years old colony in Aligarh raised many issues, UP government must listen to this
The election chariot of 'Amar Ujala' reached the 150-year-old Saraiman Singh Colony in Aligarh. Here women openly discussed electoral issues. Women spoke on all the issues including security, dirt,
Will continue fight over land bill, Sonia tells Hazare
New Delhi, March 18 (IANS) Congress president Sonia Gandhi has written to social activist Anna Hazare saying that she agrees with him that the land bill brought by the NDA government was not in
