Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said he was extremely saddened by the demise of his "friend" and cabinet colleague Gopinath Munde whom he hailed as a "true mass leader".
"My tributes to a dynamic leader whose premature demise leaves a void hard to fill," Modi tweeted soon after Munde's death following a road accident here.
"Extremely saddened & shocked by the demise of my friend & colleague Gopinath Mundeji. His demise is a major loss for the nation & the government.
"Gopinath Mundeji was a true mass leader. Hailing from backward sections of society, he rose to great heights & tirelessly served people," Modi said.
The party and government, he said, stands by the bereaved family members of the 64-year-old leader.
