INDIA: Veteran BJP leader and Minister of Forest, Food & Civil supplies Umesh Katti passed away at the age of 61. The political stalwart departed this life in a cardiac arrest late on Tuesday.
According to reports, the minister was not in ease; following intense chest pain, he collapsed and was rushed to Ramaiah hospital, where he was declared dead. Umesh Katti was at his Dollars Colony home, where the entire incident occurred. Karnataka state Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai expressed his grief and said it is a huge loss for the state.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his Twitter to share his condolences for a great loss to the party. The renowned politician, Umesh Katti, had been a part of elections nine times and won eight of them. He became a Minister for the first time in the late J.H. Patel’s Cabinet. He ruled for nearly four decades in the Legislative Assembly.
“I have lost a very close friend of mine,” said Chief Minister Bommai, who cared for Umesh Katti like a “brother.” Bommai further said, “To me, he was a brother. Although he had some heart problems, we never imagined he would pass away so soon. He has contributed significantly to the state. He managed several portfolios well. The state has suffered a huge loss. He has left a huge void that will be challenging to fill.”
When speaking about the funeral, he stated that “Umesh Katti’s body would be transported by air ambulance. After the public viewing, all procedures will be completed at Sankeshwara until 2:00 pm. At Bagewadi Belagavi, the final rites will be performed with state honours. A holiday has been announced in schools and colleges today in Belagavi.”
The Karnataka state minister for Higher Education recognised Katti as a “man of few words”. He said, “He had cardiac issues, and because of the massive heart attack, he lost his life. He was a man of few words. He has always been a people’s man.” In contrast, Revenue Minister R Ashoka expressed his condolences by saying, “It’s a big loss to the BJP, Belagavi and Karnataka.”
The Head doctor Dr Aruna Ramesh, serving in the emergency services at Ramaiah Hospital, said, “He was brought in at 10.30 pm. He was unconscious, wasn’t breathing and did not have a pulse. As a routine, it is considered a cardiac arrest. Despite all our efforts, we could not revive him. At 11.40 pm, we declared him dead. Unfortunately, he must have had a massive heart attack at home. He already had a cardiac problem.”
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