Ananth Kumar, a union minister and six-time MP, died at private hospital after battling lung cancer for several months.
The National Flag will fly at half-mast throughout the country Monday to pay homage to Union minister Ananth Kumar who died in the early hours. The Central government will also accord a state funeral to the senior BJP leader.
“Following the unfortunate demise of Union Minister Ananth Kumar, it has been decided that the national flag will fly at half mast throughout the country today and a state funeral will be accorded,” a Home Ministry spokesperson said.
The Karnataka government has declared a three- day state mourning till November 14 . The State government has also declared a holiday on Monday as a mark of respect to Kumar. His last rites will be performed with all Government honour, an official release said. Read in Bengali | Malayalam Tamil
A resolution condoling the demise of Kumar and hailing his contribution is also likely to be passed in a special meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As per established practice, resolutions are passed by the Cabinet in the memory of ministers and senior leaders. Similar resolutions were passed following demise of union ministers Gopinath Munde and Anil Madhav Dave.
Ananth Kumar, a union minister and six-time MP, died at private hospital after battling lung cancer for several months. Kumar, 59, breathed his last around 2 am with his wife Tejaswini and two daughters by his bedside, Sankara Hospital Director Nagaraj told PTI. He returned to Bengaluru only recently after undergoing treatment in the US and Britain. The senior BJP leader had been on a ventilator in the Intensive Care Unit for the last few days.
Kumar served as Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers since May 2014 and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs since July 2016. He represented the Bengaluru South constituency in Lok Sabha. The state BJP said Kumar’s body will be kept at the National College Ground for public to pay their last respects.
(With Inputs from PTI)