Environment Minister Dave passes away
New Delhi: Environment Minister Anil Dave passed away here today.
60-year-old Dave complained of uneasiness at his home this morning and was rushed to AIIMS where he passed away, according to official sources.
He was a member of the Rajya Sabha since 2009. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of Dave.
“Absolutely shocked by the sudden demise of my friend & a very respected colleague, Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave ji. My condolences,” he said in a tweet.
The Prime Minister said Dave will be remembered as a devoted public servant who was tremendously passionate towards conserving the environment.
“I was with Anil Madhav Dave ji till late last evening, discussing key policy issues. This demise is a personal loss,” he said in another tweet. However, the cause of Dave’s death is not known. The minister was believed to have not been keeping well for a while.
Even the questions related to his ministry were answered by his predecessor Prakash Javadekar during the Budget Session of Parliament.
Dave was appointed the Environment Minister with an independent charge after Javadekar was promoted to the Cabinet rank as the HRD Minister in the last government reshuffle.
Dave’s held a meeting with the Prime Minister last night, which was believed to have been around the contentious issue related to the GEAC nod to GM mustard. He was a member of the Rajya Sabha since 2009.
Meanwhile, former Union Minister and Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh condoled the demise of Dave.
Describing the BJP leader as a “very nice man”, Ramesh in his condolence message remembered the support Dave had extended to him during his stint as Environment Minister in the previous Congress-led UPA government. “He supported whatever I did when I was Minister,” Ramesh said.
The Rajya Sabha MP said Dave, who was an “ideal Chairman of the Rajya Sabha select committees,” had special interest in river conservation.
