Union Minister Ananth Kumar passes away at 59; last rites tomorrow in Bengaluru

Ananth Kumar Passes Away: The government has decided that the national flag on Monday will fly at half mast throughout the country, in order to pay respects to Ananth Kumar. Also, a state funeral will be accorded to the Union Minister.

File PTI image

Bengaluru: Senior BJP leader and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar breathed his last at a private hospital here in the early hours of Monday. He was suffering from lung cancer and had come back from the US in October after treatment at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, New York. Kumar, 59, is survived by wife and two daughters. He passed away around 4 am, party spokesman Prakash told media. Kumar's wife Tejaswini and his two daughters were with him when he passed away, he said. Kumar was a BJP MP from south Bengaluru constituency. The government has decided that the national flag on Monday will fly at half mast throughout the country, in order to pay respects to Ananth Kumar. Also, a state funeral will be accorded to the Union Minister. The last rites would be performed on Tuesday afternoon, Karnataka BJP said. The mortal remains of Kumar would be placed at his residence in Basavanagudifor the entire day today, state BJP General Secretary N RaviKumar said in a statement. He said, by 8 AM on Tuesday, it would be taken to Jagannath Bhavan, BJP state office at Malleshwaram, where arrangements would be made for party workers and his followersto pay their last respects, reported PTI. Kumar's body would then be taken to National College Ground in the city for public to pay their respects, and the last rites would be performed at 1 PM at Chjamarajapete crematorium, the statement added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise of Kumar. "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," he tweeted.

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.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 12, 2018

Bengaluru: National flag draped over casket carrying mortal remains of Union Minister #AnanthKumar, who passed away in the early hours today. pic.twitter.com/DURLjS99L3

— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2018

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also expressed deep sorrow over Kumar's death. "Deep sense of grief on hearing that Shri @AnanthKumar_BJP is no more with us. Served @BJP4India @BJP4Karnataka all along. Bengaluru was in his head and heart, always. May God give his family the strength to bear with this loss," she tweeted.

Deep sense of grief on hearing that Shri @AnanthKumar_BJP is no more with us. Served @BJP4India @BJP4Karnataka all along. Bengaluru was in his head and heart, always. May God give his family the strength to bear with this loss.

— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) November 12, 2018