Ananth Kumar passes away: Nation in mourning; PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi pay tributes
Ananth Kumar, 59, died at a private hospital in Bengaluru in the early hours of Monday after battling lung cancer for several months.
Tributes poured in for Union Minister Ananth Kumar, who died of cancer Monday, from his BJP colleagues as well as from the opposition leaders.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the Parliamentary Affairs Minister as an able administrator and a great asset to the party.
Ananth Kumar, 59, died at a private hospital in Bengaluru in the early hours of Monday after battling lung cancer for several months, hospital authorities said.
Kumar breathed his last around 2 am with his wife Tejaswini and two daughters by his bedside, Sankara Hospital Director Nagaraj told PTI.
While his home state Karnataka has declared a one-day public holiday, a three-day mourning has been declared by the Congress-JD(S) government. The Union Home Ministry has said that he will be accorded a State Funeral.
BJP sources said the body of Kumar would be kept at the National College Ground, which falls in his Bangalore South Lok Sabha constituency, for public homage. Details of funeral arrangements were being worked out, the sources said.
Kumar had come back to Bengaluru only recently after undergoing treatment in the US and Britain. He was later under treatment at the Sankara Hospital here.
Representing Bengaluru South in the Lok Sabha for a sixth straight term, Kumar had been a key leader in the BJP for over two decades, serving as a minister in its first government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and in the current Modi dispensation as well, besides being a member of the party's parliamentary board.
Kumar passed away from complications following cancer and infections, his party office said in a statement. He had been on the ventilator in the Intensive Care Unit for the last few days, it said. He had come back to Bengaluru only recently after undergoing treatment in the US and Britain. He was later under treatment at the Sankara Hospital in Bengaluru. Kumar, 59, breathed his last around 2 am with his wife Tejaswini and two daughters by his bedside.
(Photo: PTI)
Expressing his grief, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was extremely saddened by the passing away of "my valued colleague and friend" and described him as a remarkable leader, who entered public life at a young age and went on to serve society with utmost diligence and compassion. He will always be remembered for his good work, he said in a tweet.
"Extremely saddened by the passing away of my valued colleague and friend, Shri Ananth Kumar Ji. He was a remarkable leader, who entered public life at a young age and went on to serve society with utmost diligence and compassion. He will always be remembered for his good work," Modi said in a tweet.
"Ananth Kumar Ji was an able administrator, who handled many ministerial portfolios and was a great asset to the BJP organisation. He worked hard to strengthen the Party in Karnataka, particularly in Bengaluru and surrounding areas. He was always accessible to his constituents," he said.
"I spoke to his wife, Dr. Tejaswini Ji and expressed condolences on the passing away of Shri Ananth Kumar Ji. My thoughts are with his entire family, friends and supporters in this hour of grief and sadness. Om Shanti," Modi tweeted.
(Photo: PTI)
President Ram Nath Kovind also condoled the demise of Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar. Expressing his condolences, Kovind said the death of Kumar was a tragic loss to public life in the country. "Sad to hear of the passing of Union minister and veteran parliamentarian Shri H.N. Ananth Kumar. This is a tragic loss to public life in our country and particularly for the people of Karnataka. My condolences to his family, colleagues and countless associates," he tweeted.
(Photo: Twitter)
BJP president Amit Shah said Kumar served the party and the nation with unparalleled zeal and dedication.
"I am grief stricken to learn about the untimely demise of our senior leader and union minister Shri Ananth Kumar ji. He served the nation and organisation with unparalleled zeal and dedication. Ananth ji worked tirelessly to strengthen the BJP in the state of Karnataka," Shah tweeted.
"Ananth ji was a remarkable administrator who served various ministerial portfolios. His passing away has left a void in the BJP and Indian polity that can not be filled soon. May God give his family & supporters strength to bear this tragic loss. My deepest condolences. Om Shanti," he said in another tweet.
(Photo: PTI)
Opposition leaders also paid tribute to the Union Minister. "I’m sorry to hear about the passing of Union Minister, Shri Ananth Kumar ji, in Bengaluru, earlier this morning. My condolences to his family & friends. May his soul rest in peace. Om Shanti," Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
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Paying tribute to Kumar, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said he lost a great friend in his death. "I have lost a great friend in his (Ananth Kumar) death. He was a value based politician, who made significant contribution to country as and Union Minister. May his soul rest in peace and may God give strength to his family and his followers to endure this loss," the chief minister said.
Three-day mourning has been declared in Karnataka. One-day holiday declared for today has been declared.
(Photo: ANI)
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Monday condoled the demise of Union Minister Ananth Kumar, saying he was a "dedicated statesman." In a tweet, the Vice President Secretariat quoted Naidu as describing Kumar as a "colleague for years together, from students' movement to Parliament" "Shocked to learn about the sad demise of the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Anant Kumar. He has been a colleague of mine for years together, from students' movement to Parliament. He was a dedicated statesman," the Vice President said.
(Photo: PIB)