Former President Pranab Mukherjee (84) breathed his last on Monday, informed his son Abhijit Mukherjee.

The veteran politician was found to be COVID-19 positive when he went to Army Hospital for treatment.

At the hospital, he underwent surgery for a blood clot in the brain.

The health of the former President worsened on Tuesday and by the evening, had to be kept on ventilator support.

His son Abhijit Mukherjee said on Wednesday tweeted that his father was “haemodynamically stable”. However, he asked everyone to continue prayers.

Pranab Mukherjee’s political career spanned five decades, the highest point of which came when he became President Of India.

He was in the Presidential office from 2012 to 2017.

But even before he assumed the highest office in the land, Pranab Mukherjee had been the backbone of Indian Government on more than one occasion.

The former President was the union finance minister between 2009 and 2012, defence minister from 2004 to 2006, and the external affairs minister from 2006 to 2009.

He is survived by his 3 children.-Sharmistha Mukherjee, Abhijit Mukherjee and Indrajit Mukherjee.

Pranab Mukherjee was conferred Padma Vibhushan in 2008 and Bharat Ratna in 2019.

In a tweet, President Ram Nath Kovind said, “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 Kovind further said.

” 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,” he added in another tweet.

In a condolence message, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote, “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.”

“As India’s President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee made Rashtrapati Bhavan even more accessible to common citizens. He made the President’s house a centre of learning, innovation, culture, science and literature. His wise counsel on key policy matters will never be forgotten by me,” PM Modi further wrote.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, in his condolence message, said, ” The end of an era. My deepest condolences at the demise of former President of India, Bharat Ratna #PranabMukherjee ji. I join the nation in solemn prayers as one of our towering personalities in public life leaves for the heavens above. Om Shanti.”

In his condolence message, Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is a former Congressman, said, “A legend leaves us! Pranab Da, one of modern India’s finest leaders, a statesman and a visionary, is no more with us. His legacy shall be something to cherish forever. My condolences.”

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