Unseen PICTURES and unknown facts about former Defence Minister George Fernandes who breathed his last today

His long political career also included several controversies. He went underground in 1975 during the Congress imposed Emergecy while challenging then PM Indira Gandhi for imposing the emergency. In 1976, he was arrested and tried in the infamous Baroda dynamite case./ Getty images

In May 1998, India conducted five nuclear tests at the Pokharan range in Rajasthan. Fernandes, who earlier used to be a supporter of nuclear disarmament, openly endorsed the NDA government's decision to test the nuclear bombs./ Getty images

The two crucial events in the Indian defence during NDA government, the Kargil war and Pokharan nuclear tests, took place when Fernandes was the defence minister./ Getty images

He served as the Defence Minister of India in both the second and third National Democratic Alliance governments (1998–2004)./ Getty images

He was a sitting Rajya Sabha member from Bihar. He had held several ministerial portfolios including communications, industry, railways, and defence./ Getty Images

George Fernandes, full name -George Mathew Fernandes was born on June 3 1930. He passed away at the age of 88 years./Getty Images