Double Blow for BJP

Obituary: Double Blow for BJP

Celebration Turns into Mourning

BJP's mass leader from Marathwada ­with an in-depth understanding of issues in Maharashtra, especially pertaining to agriculture, rural development and neglected sections of society is now no more with us. It's came like a shock for the BJP supporters who were busy in preparation to celebrate the grand victory of the leader of masses in Maharashtra. Parali, a small but important religious and political place in Maharashtra was in a festive mood with his grand victory and subsequent induction as the cabinet minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj by PM Narendra Modi government. Discussions were on in political circles of Maharashtra about his possible declaration as Chief Ministerial candidate of Maharashtra. In case of Gopinath Pandurang Munde, these wishes of masses were not enough in front of the wishes of destiny. The news of his tragic death in accident on June 3, 2014 shocked everybody. The preparations for celebration were to be converted into preparation for last rites.

The famous ground of Vaidyanath Sugar Cooperative, an institution once headed by Late Munde as President, was finalised as the place for creation. By the time Munde’s mortals reached the spot at 12.15 pm, roads were filled with the Munde's supporters. They did not bother about the scorching heat or police accesses. Only wish of theirs was to pay last tribute to their beloved leader.

Around 1.20 pm, cremation ceremony was started amidst the Vaidik chants and State honour. Thousands of supporters could not control their emotions, when eldest daughter of the Late leader Pankaja Munde-Palve lit the funeral pyre. “Long Live Munde Saheb” was the only chanting one could hear. Loss of near and dear one was the feeling on everybody’s face.
Besides Central Ministers Rajnath Singh, Prakash Javadekar and Raosaheb Danve Patil, BJP CMs Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Manohar Parrikar and Ram Singh, Shivsena leader Uddhav Thackeray, MNS leader Raj Thackeray and RPI leader Ramdas Athawale were present for the funeral. RR Patil and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshavardhan Patil were also present. BJP MPs, MLAs and office bearers also expressed their sense of loss on the occasion.
The demand for CBI enquiry was made by many supporters. They also tried to encircle the convoy of the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshavardhan Patil. An appeal by Pankaja Munde-Palve to the crowd to maintain calm avoided any untowardly incident.

—Prasad Joshi from Parali in Maharashtra

RSS leaders Pay Tribute to Gopinath Munde

After paying the floral tributes to the remains of Shri Gopinath Munde who lost his life in an accident in Delhi, RSS top leadership has expressed a deep shock and pain over the loss of the Swayamsevak. “The sudden accidental demise of Shri Gopinath Munde is painful and shocking for all of us,” the release jointly signed by Sarsanghachalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Sarkaryavah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi and Sah Sarkaryavah Shri Sureshji Soni says.
Shri Munde made BJP the party of masses through his aggressive leadership style and now he was expected to make a mark at national level with the new role in the government. While terming this as a cruel and unbelievable act of destiny, RSS has expressed its solidarity with the bereaved Munde family.

A Crusader in Left Stronghold

Former Union Minister in Atal Behari Vajpayee government from 1999 to 2004, Tapan Sikdar (69) passed away at All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi on June 2 following chronic renal failure.
Sikdar was suffering from kidney ailment for some and was on dialysis. Tapan Da, as he was popularly known, was airlifted to Delhi four days ago after his condition worsened.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his tribute said Tapan Das would be remembered for his ‘rich contribution in building the BJP and his years of dedicated public service’.

Veteran party leader Shri LK Advani and Union Home Minister and party president Shri Rajnath Singh also paid their homage. “Tapan Da played an important role for Bengal BJP and the party owes its achievements to the efforts of people like him,” Shri Advani said.
Shri Rajnath Singh termed Sikdar's demise as a great loss for the party and prayed for courage to his family to bear with the loss. West Bengal BJP president Rahul Sinha said Sikdar’s death would cause an “unbearable loss” to the party’s cause in Bengal.
Babul Supriya, singer and BJP MP from Asansol, expressed his condolence.

 Bikram Sarkar former MP expressed his condolence and said it was a great loss for the Bengal BJP, as he could have guided the party as it is gaining ground in Bengal now.