National Flag at half mast in Ananth Kumar’s honour

The six-time parliamentarian from Bengaluru South dies of cancer

NEW DELHI: The Central government on Monday announced that the National Flag would fly at half mast throughout the country in honour of late Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar who died earlier in the day in Bengaluru.

“Following the unfortunate demise of Ananth Kumar, it has been decided that the National Flag will fly at half mast throughout the country today,” a Union Home Ministry statement said.

The Central government has also decided that the National Flag will be flown at half mast on the day of funeral at the place where it takes place.

As a mark of respect, a state funeral will be accorded, it added. Kumar, 59, died at 3 am at a private hospital where he was undergoing treatment for cancer.

The Karnataka government declared a three-day mourning across the state and one-day public holiday for Monday as a mark of respect.

The departed leader was also the Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister in the Nda-led government since May 2014. A six-time parliamentarian from the Bengaluru South Lok Sabha constituency since 1996, Ananth Kumar had been undergoing treatment for cancer in the UK and US since August.

“He first went to London after the monsoon session of Parliament in July-august and later shifted to a New York hospital.

“The cancer had spread to other parts of his body that resulted in his multi-organ failure and death,” said Shantaram.

The late Union Minister is survived by his widow Tejaswani, two daughters Aishwaraya and Vijayeta, younger brother Nand Kumar and younger sister Suhasini.

Kumar’s body was shifted his residence and home-office Basavangudi here.

“It will be kept in state at the National College grounds in Basavangudi for the public to pay homage till the last rites on Tuesday,” said the party official.

State and central government offices will remain closed on Monday as a tribute to Kumar, a state official said. The Karnataka Education Department declared holiday for all schools and colleges in the city on Monday as a mark of respect.

As news of Kumar’s demise spread across the city, hundreds of people, including party’s state unit leaders rushed to his residence to pay their last respects.

Several BJP leaders, including state unit chief B S Yeddyurappa and legislators R Ashok and Suresh Kumar visited Kumar’s house and condoled his untimely death. — IANS to at