‘Passing of an era’: President Kovind condoles Pranab Mukherjee’s death | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
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‘Passing of an era’: President Kovind condoles Pranab Mukherjee’s death

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Byhindustantimes.com | Edited by Shivani Kumar
Aug 31, 2020 08:11 PM IST

A quintessential Congressman for five decades, Pranab Mukherjee had worked as a teacher and journalist before taking his first steps in politics.

President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday extended his condolences after Congress veteran and India’s former president Pranab Mukherjee died at a Delhi hospital. His passing comes at the age of 84.

Former President Pranab Mukherjee.(Sonu Mehta/HT PHOTO)
Former President Pranab Mukherjee.(Sonu Mehta/HT PHOTO)

“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 and all citizens,” President Kovind tweeted.

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“Endowed with perspicacity and wisdom, Bharat Ratna Shri Mukherjee combined tradition and modernity. In his 5 decade long illustrious public life, he remained rooted to the ground irrespective of the exalted offices he held. He endeared himself to people across political spectrum,” President Kovind also said in the following tweets.

Also read | Pranab Mukherjee dies: A look at his illustrious political career

“As the First Citizen, he continued to connect with everyone, bringing Rashtrapati Bhavan closer to the people. He opened its gates for public visit. His decision to discontinue the use of the honorific ‘His Excellency’ was historic,” President also said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his grief over the tragedy as he said, Mukherjee “left an indelible mark on the development trajectory of our nation.”

“India grieves the passing away of Bharat Ratna Shri 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 and by all sections of society,” tweeted PM Modi.

A quintessential Congressman for five decades, the seven-time parliamentarian had worked as a teacher and journalist before taking his first steps in politics. His first stop in Delhi was the Rajya Sabha in 1969, the House that re-elected him four more times before he won his first Lok Sabha election from Bengal’s Jangipur in 2004. He was re-elected in 2009.

Mukherjee had suffered a fall at his Rajaji Marg house and had been operated to remove a blood clot in his brain on August 10. Doctors on Monday morning warned that there was a decline in his condition and he was in septic shock due to infection in his lung.

Later in the afternoon, his son Abhijit Mukherjee made the announcement of his passing.

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