Delhi ex–CM dies in freak road accident

BJP senior leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma was killed in a freak road accident, June 30, near Shajahanpur in Rajasthan, when a truck coming from the opposite direction lost control, careened and dashed against the SUV Tata Safari, in which Verma was traveling, on the Delhi–Jaipur NH–8 highway.

Incidentally, NH–8, part of the Golden Quadrilateral, recorded a total of 140 accidents in June this year—there were 83 serious injuries and 7 fatalities. According to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) figures, as many as 164 accidents occured between Delhi and Jaipur in May 2007. It killed seven and injured 80.

Records say on an average 6,800 fatalities occur annually on Rajasthan's highways.

The accident, which took place near the Shahjahanpur industrial area, some 80 km from Delhi, also claimed the lives of co–passengers: Delhi Councillor Naresh Agarwal and Mr. Verma's personal security officer Jagroop and car driver Divesh.

The truck driver was also seriously injured.

According to eye–witnesses, the accident took place around 2.30 p.m. when the truck coming from the opposite direction, while attempting to avoid collision with a cyclist which suddenly came in its way, jumped the divider on the six–lane highway and crashed into the Tata Safari, immediately turning it into a mangled heap of metal. The impact instantaneously killed Verma.

Verma was the Chief Minister of Delhi between 1996 and 1998. He was also the Union Labor Minister during the NDA regime.

He is survived by his wife, two sons and three daughters.

The Delhi government has declared a holiday on Monday for its offices as a mark of respect to the late former chief minister.

But the schools run by the government will continue to function as normal, a Delhi government spokesman said.

The MCD has also declared a holiday for its offices and educational institutions.

Verma's sudden death has come as a rude jolt for the BJP which is preparing for the Delhi Assembly polls due next year.

"He was the jat and the kisan (farmer) face of our party," recalled BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley, himself a prominent Delhiite. The lawyer–politician remembered Verma as a grassroots man who reached out to party workers and supporters in times of celebration and grief.

"He was not only popular in Delhi, but in many parts of the country because he championed the cause of farmers, laborers and the unorganized sector," BJP national president Rajnath Singh said.

Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani remembered his contribution to the cause of unorganized labor, and recalled Verma's role in drawing up a Bill for unorganized labor as Union Labor Minister in the NDA Government between 2002 and 2004.

"It is very difficult to believe that he is no longer with us. I would not be able to recover from this shock for a long time. He will be missed not only in Delhi, but all over the country as he was a national leader," Former Union Finance and External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, said.

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday condoled the death of former Delhi chief minister Sahib Singh Verma.

In a condolence message, the president said he was saddened to learn about the passing away of Verma whom he had known closely when the BJP leader was a central minister.

The president said Verma served with distinction in various important assignments in public life, including those in the state and central governments.

The vice president said Verma was truly a leader of the masses whom he served with boundless zeal and commitment.

He shall always be remembered for his administrative acumen and organizational ability besides his selfless service to people, Shekhawat said.

In a letter to his wife, Sahib Kaur, the prime minister said he was deeply grieved to learn of the sad and untimely demise of Verma in a road accident.

"I had the privilege of knowing him for many years and working with him in parliament. In his untimely and unfortunate passing away, the country and his constituents have lost a prominent leader. Please accept my heart–felt condolences and sympathy on this sad occasion. His absence will be deeply felt by his wide circle of friends and admirers and followers," Manmohan Singh said.

Verma was cremated on Sunday with full state honors in New Delhi with leaders of different political parties and top officials from Delhi attending the funeral.