M A I N   N E W S

Suraj Bhan dead

New Delhi, August 6
Mr Suraj Bhan, senior BJP leader and Chairman of the National Commission for SC/STs, died at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences here this evening following a cardiac arrest, sources close to the leader said.

According to his party colleague and former Rajya Sabha MP Ramnath Kovind, Mr Bhan, who had been admitted to AIIMS three days ago, died at 5 p.m. Mr Bhan, who was in his late 70s, leaves behind his wife and three sons.

Mr Bhan was Union Minister for Agriculture in 1998 in the NDA government at the Centre under the Prime Ministership of Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He also served as UP Governor in 1999 and as Himachal Governor in 2003. — UNI