Former President Pranab Mukherjee died on Monday in Delhi’s Army’s Research and Referral (R&R) Hospital, where he had been admitted a few weeks ago for a brain surgery. He was 84. Mukherjee had tested positive for the coronavirus disease before undergoing a successful surgery to remove a brain clot.
Mukherjee, President of India from 2012 to 2017, had kept his public interactions minimal since the coronavirus pandemic struck the country in January. He had undergone an angioplasty, a procedure to open blocked or narrowed coronary arteries, at the same hospital in 2014, according to a Hindustan Times report. He had not contested the 2017 Presidential election citing “advanced age and failing health”.
Mukherjee was awarded the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award, last year.
“Sad to hear that former President Shri Pranab Mukherjee is no more. His demise is passing of an era. A colossus in public life, he served Mother India with the spirit of a sage. The nation mourns losing one of its worthiest sons. Condolences to his family, friends & all citizens. Endowed with perspicacity and wisdom, Bharat Ratna Shri Mukherjee combined tradition and modernity. In his 5 decades long illustrious public life, he remained rooted to the ground irrespective of the exalted offices he held. He endeared himself to people across the political spectrum,” President Ram Nath Kovind said in a message.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “India grieves the passing away of Bharat Ratna Pranab Mukherjee. He has left an indelible mark on the development trajectory of our nation. A scholar par excellence, a towering statesman, he was admired across the political spectrum & by all sections of society.”
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Monday expressed condolences on the demise of former president Pranab Mukherjee and said the country has lost one of its greatest leaders. Singh said he had learnt a lot from Mukherjee and depended on him a great deal for his wisdom, vast knowledge and experience of public affairs. “I have learnt with profound sorrow about the passing away of Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Former President of India,” he said.
Former President Pratibha Patil on Monday mourned the demise of Pranab Mukherjee and termer it as a personal loss.
“It is a personal loss to me, we have worked really closely. He was a great politician with a lot of knowledge and experience and I think India has lost a great man. He was like a brother. He will be ever remembered in the political history of India. We were together in CWC and we use to discuss a lot about the situation at that time and formulate strategies. He used to give good and practical advice,” said Pratibha Patil.
Pranab Mukherjee was like a guide to RSS: Mohan Bhagwat
Terming former President Pranab Mukherjee’s death “an irreparable loss to the Sangh Parivar”, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday said the veteran Congress leader was like a guide to RSS. “(Pranab) Mukherjee was like a guide to RSS and affectionate towards us; his death an irreparable loss to Sangh,” Bhagwat was quoted by PTI as saying.
