The nation mourns the demise of former President of India Hon. Mr. Pranab Mukherjee. The Bharat Ratna breathed his last in RR hospital. The news was confirmed by his son Mr. Abhijeet Mukherjee.
Pranab da was admitted at the army hospital and was undergoing surgery for a blood clot in his brain. However, there he was diagnosed with the Covid-19. He was later shifted to RR hospital but his health deteriorated and was on ventilator support.
Pranab Da’s political career was of five decades, the highest point 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 the Indian Government on more than one occasion. He served as Union Minister for Home, Finance, Defence and External Affairs. Being a congressman did not stop him from performing his duties during the years of NDA rule. In spite of serving in so many different political sectors, the main prize still eluded him- The Prime Ministership.
Our current Prime Minister Hon. Mr. Narendra Modi has thanked him on several occasions and expressed his gratitude. In fact, he was a member amongst the panel of politicians whom Mr. Modi had asked him for his advice on tackling the COVID situation in India. Our Prime Minister tweeted,” 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.” Many politicians and people from all walks of life mourn his loss and expressed their condolences.
Mr. Mukherjee was a towering statesman. For him, the country’s welfare always came before any political party or personal interests. A straightforward and shrewd personality, he was always ethical and never tolerated misbehavior. One might remember his interview with Mr. Rajdeep Sardesai wherein he expressed his annoyance on being cut while conveying his thoughts.
Mr. Mukerjee was the first Bengali to hold the post of the President of India. He made several amendments in the laws related to sexual offenses. He was also known to reject 24 mercy pleas including that of Yakub Menon, Afzal Guru, and Ajmal Kasab. The nation today lost a gem and his loss will be truly felt.
