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India Declares 7-Day Mourning As Pranab Mukherjee Passes Away

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NEW DELHI: As a mark of respect to former President Pranab Mukherjee, Seven-Day State Mourning will be observed throughout India from today till 6th September. During the period, the National Flag will fly at half-mast on all buildings throughout India, where it is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment.

Mukherjee, a stalwart of Indian politics, breathed his last on Monday (August 31). He was 84. The information was announced by his son Abhijit Mukherjee. The veteran politician was found to be coronavirus positive when he went to Army Hospital for treatment. At the hospital, he underwent surgery for a blood clot in the brain.

Mukherjee served as 13th President of India from 2012 to 2017. He also served as Union Minister of Finance, Defence, External Affairs and Commerce.

A man of humble origin, Mukherjee was born in the small village of Mirati in Birbhum District of West Bengal as the son of freedom fighters, Kamada Kinkar Mukherjee and Rajlakshmi. He acquired a Master’s degree in History and Political Science as well as a degree in Law from the University of Kolkata. He then embarked on his professional life as a college teacher and journalist.

Inspired by his father’s contribution to the national movement, Mukherjee in 1969 plunged into full-time public life following his election to the Upper House of the Parliament.

Under the mentoring of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Mukherjee’s rise in his political career was rapid. He served as Union Minister of Finance, Defence, External Affairs and Commerce.

Mukherjee was also Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission. He was elected to Rajya Sabha five times and twice to Lok Sabha.

Mukherjee served as Leader of both houses of Parliament. He had extensive diplomatic experience and served on the Board of Governors of the IMF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and African Development Bank. Mukherjee was instrumental in spearheading critical decisions of the Government on a range of issues such as Administrative reforms, Right to Information, Right to Employment, Food Security, Energy Security, Information Technology and telecommunication and setting up of UIDAI.

He was a member of the Congress Working Committee, the highest policy-making body of the Party for a period of 23 years. A powerful orator and scholar, Mukherjee’s intellectual and political prowess as well as remarkable knowledge of international relations, financial affairs and parliamentary process are widely admired.

He has been acclaimed for his role as a consensus builder on difficult national issues through his ability to forge unity amongst the diverse political parties that form part of India’s vibrant multi-party democracy.

India Mourns:

President Ramnath Kovind has condoled the death of former President Pranab Mukherjee. The president said that his demise is the passing of an era. A colossus in public life, he served Mother India with the spirit of a sage.

Vice President M. Vekaiah Naidu said that the country has lost an elder statesman in Pranab Mukherjee’s death. He rose from a humble beginning to occupy the country’s highest constitutional position through hard work, discipline and dedication.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Pranab Mukherjee has left an indelible mark on the development trajectory of the nation. A scholar par excellence, a towering statesman,

The post India Declares 7-Day Mourning As Pranab Mukherjee Passes Away first appeared on League of India.



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