Former President and Bharat Ratna Pranab Mukherjee is no more. He died today. For several days, he was in a deep coma and put on a ventilator, being treated for a lung infection. Information about his death was confirmed by his son Abhijeet Mukherjee. Seven-day national mourning has been declared by the government on the death of the former president. This mourning will be held across India from 31 August to 6 September.
President Ramnath Kovind and PM Modi have expressed grief over the demise of Pranab Mukherjee. President Kovind tweeted that the heart was shocked to hear about Pranab Mukherjee’s death. His death is the end of an era. I express my deepest condolences to the family, friends of Pranab Mukherjee and all the countrymen.
On the demise of the former President, PM Modi tweeted that he was a great scholar, everyone in the political community respected him. PM Modi wrote that the death of Bharat Ratna Pranab Mukherjee is very sad. He has left an indelible mark on the development path of our nation. A scholar by excellence, a politician, he was praised across the political spectrum and by all sections of society.
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. pic.twitter.com/gz6rwQbxi6
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 31, 2020
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed grief over the demise of Pranab Mukherjee and said that I join the whole country and pay tribute to him. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones in this hour of grief.
With great sadness, the nation receives the news of the unfortunate demise of our former President Shri Pranab Mukherjee.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 31, 2020
I join the country in paying homage to him.
My deepest condolences to the bereaved family and friends. pic.twitter.com/zyouvsmb3V
It is known that due to a blood clot in the brain, he was admitted to the hospital in critical condition on August 10. His corona test was also done before the surgery, which was reported positive. The doctors then underwent surgery to remove the blood clots from his brain. Yet his health did not improve.
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There is a wave of mourning in the whole country after the passing away of Bharat Ratna Pranab Mukherjee. From the leaders to the general public, they were paying tribute. His political life has been longer than 40 years. While in the Congress Party, he held important portfolios such as foreign, defence, finance and commerce ministry.
Pranab Mukherjee served as the 13th President of India from 2012 to 2017. The former President has also been awarded the Bharat Ratna. However, UPA President Sonia Gandhi’s first choice for the presidency was Hamid Ansari. But Mukherjee was the choice of many regional political parties. It also showed that despite political differences, Pranab Mukherjee had acceptance among all political parties.