Vilasrao Deshmukh, Indian Union Minister, passes away
Vilasrao Deshmukh (1945-2012)
India's Union Minister for Science and Technology and former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Vilasrao Deshmukh (67) passed away at a hospital in Chennai yesterday. As a cabinet member, Shri Deshmukh was one of the foremost supporters of the international Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly in India. He was passionate about the cause and had recently organized the release of the Indian edition of the book "Towards A Global Parliament" edited by Richard Falk and Andrew Strauss in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and BJP chief Nitin Gadkari were among leaders from across the political spectrum who paid tributes.
Shri Deshmukh's death is a big loss to the efforts towards a more democratic global order. May his soul rest in peace.