After former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, 84, passed away on Monday in New Delhi after battling for his life for 20 days in hospital, the country’s political leaders have been lining up to pay their respects.
Indian President Ram Nath Kovid described his predecessor as “A colossus in public life”.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 31, 2020
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled the contribution of Mukherjee, who was “admired across the political spectrum and by all sections of society”.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 31, 2020
Pranab Mukherjee’s son Abhijit Mukherjee announced the death through a tweet.
— Abhijit Mukherjee (@ABHIJIT_LS) August 31, 2020
Several other national and state leaders – Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief of Rajasthan State Ashok Gehlot and West Bengal Chief Mamata Banerjee expressed sorrow at the demise of the former president.
— Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) August 31, 2020
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 31, 2020
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 31, 2020
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) August 31, 2020
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) August 31, 2020
The prime Ministers of Sri Lanka and Nepal also expressed sorrow at the death of the former Indian President.
— Mahinda Rajapaksa (@PresRajapaksa) August 31, 2020
— K P Sharma Oli (@kpsharmaoli) August 31, 2020
Indian cricketers V.V.S. Laxman and Ishant Sharma also tweeted their condolences.
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) August 31, 2020
— Ishant Sharma (@ImIshant) August 31, 2020
The veteran politician served as president between 2012 and 2017. Before that, he served as a federal minister from the Congress party under three different prime ministers and managed portfolios as diverse as finance, external affairs and defence.
