Toronto: A 35-year-old Indian-origin Sikh Lawmaker in Canada was killed in a tragic car accident while doing a Good Samaritan act.
Manmeet Bhullar, a Progressive Conservative Party Lawmaker from Calgary-Greenway, died on Monday on the Queen Elizabeth II highway near Edmonton when an out-of-control semi-trailer hit him after he stopped to help a fellow motorist who had lost control on the snowy road.
"It's devastating for everyone who knew Manmeet and knew what he did and his sense of spirituality and public service and what a fine person he was," said former Alberta Premier Jim Prentice.
"You really could not go anywhere in Alberta without being struck by the sense of admiration and affection and love that people in this province had for Manmeet as a political leader."
"This was a man who was in politics for all of the right reasons," Mr Prentice was quoted as saying by the CBC news.
"He was doing a Good Samaritan act, and he was doing almost exactly what we do. He was trying to help someone, and trying to pull someone out of the ditch. It's absolutely tragic," said Ryan Lemont, a tow-truck driver.
Mr Bhullar was a respected politician known for his compassion and his demise has sent the entire province in a state of mourning. Flags on provincial buildings were lowered to half-mast until sunset in view of his funeral.
"I watched him grow into the incredible person that he became, who was really known throughout the province for his sense of public service and his commitment to other people," said Prentice, a lawyer who knew Mr Bhullar from a young age and helped Sikh community to get their first temple built in the province which they had been demanding for very long.
"I always thought that he would go on to other political leadership roles. But he accomplished so very much in his 35 years, it's incredible." Mr Prentice said.
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said Mr Bhullar's pulling over to help a stranger is "exactly" fitting with his character.
"It's a horrible thing to say, but it's almost appropriate in that, if he was going to go, that he went helping somebody," Mr Nenshi said.
"He left us while he was doing what he loved more than anything - helping someone else" Mr Bhullar's family said in a statement following his death.
Born in Calgary, Mr Bhullar belonged to a family from Raiya village in Amritsar. He was chosen the youngest Lawmaker from Alberta in 2008. He also served as Service Alberta Minister in 2011 and Human Services Minister in 2013.
Manmeet Bhullar, a Progressive Conservative Party Lawmaker from Calgary-Greenway, died on Monday on the Queen Elizabeth II highway near Edmonton when an out-of-control semi-trailer hit him after he stopped to help a fellow motorist who had lost control on the snowy road.
"It's devastating for everyone who knew Manmeet and knew what he did and his sense of spirituality and public service and what a fine person he was," said former Alberta Premier Jim Prentice.
"This was a man who was in politics for all of the right reasons," Mr Prentice was quoted as saying by the CBC news.
Advertisement
Mr Bhullar was a respected politician known for his compassion and his demise has sent the entire province in a state of mourning. Flags on provincial buildings were lowered to half-mast until sunset in view of his funeral.
Advertisement
"I always thought that he would go on to other political leadership roles. But he accomplished so very much in his 35 years, it's incredible." Mr Prentice said.
Advertisement
"It's a horrible thing to say, but it's almost appropriate in that, if he was going to go, that he went helping somebody," Mr Nenshi said.
Advertisement
Born in Calgary, Mr Bhullar belonged to a family from Raiya village in Amritsar. He was chosen the youngest Lawmaker from Alberta in 2008. He also served as Service Alberta Minister in 2011 and Human Services Minister in 2013.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Central Government Rolled Out Good Samaritan Scheme For Road Accidents, States Yet To Avail It: Report Good Samaritans Won't Be Harassed: Supreme Court Approves Centre's Guidelines Thousands Pay Tribute to Indo-Canadian Lawmaker: Report Travel Influencer Aanvi Kamdar Dies After Falling Off A Waterfall Near Mumbai Amid Huge Row, Karnataka Pauses Bill For Reservation In Private Sector Firms "Assassination Attempt Has Sealed The Election": Trump's Close Aide Biden Says Could Drop Election Bid If "Medical Condition" Emerged Russia Says It's Ready To Work With Any US Leader 3 People Die After Drowning In Lake In Telangana: Cops Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.