NEW DELHI: State Minister of Railways Suresh Angadi died of Covid-19 on Wednesday, becoming the first union minister to succumb to the deadly virus.
The 65-year-old BJP deputy passed away around 8 p.m. at the AIIMS trauma center, which has been converted into a dedicated Covid-19 facility, hospital sources said.
He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Angadi, a fourth-term MP for Belagavi in Karnataka, announced on September 11 on Twitter that he had contracted the disease and had asked everyone who was in close contact with him in the previous days to monitor his health and get tested in case of any symptoms. He is the Prime Minister of the Union who has died of coronavirus. At least six MLA and three MPs have previously succumbed. Former President Pranab Mukherjee, who died on August 31, was also diagnosed as Covid-19 positive.
India’s Covid-19 count on Wednesday was 45,62,415, including 9,43,480 active cases, 35,42,664 recoveries and 76,271 deaths.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, various Union ministers and BJP leaders mourned Angadi’s death. The national flag will fly at half-staff on Thursday at all government offices in Delhi, the Interior Ministry said.
Born on June 1, 1955 into a Lingayat family from Somawwa and Channabasappa Angadi in the Koppa village of Belagavi, Angadi graduated from SSS Samiti College of Commerce in the same district. He did his law degree from Raja Lakhamgouda Law School in Belagavi.
A businessman by profession, Angadi took a big leap in his political career when he was appointed Vice President of the BJP in Belagavi in 1996 and made his way into the party.
He was elected a deputy in the Lok Sabha elections in 2004, and again in 2009. He was elected for a third term in 2014, when the BJP came to power in the Center, and for a fourth term in the general elections last year, after that he was appointed Minister of State for Railways of the Union.
As junior rail minister, Angadi spoke quietly but harshly when responding to media inquiries on various aspects of the performance of national carriers. He was always armed with facts and figures of projects that were underway while addressing the media.
Angadi was instrumental in powering Bengaluru’s long-pending suburban rail service. The Rs 15,990 million project aims to connect 148.17km of the city through four corridors and has a 2025 deadline.
“Shocked by the passing of Shri Suresh Angadi, Union Minister of State for Railways. Shri Angadi, a kind leader, worked tirelessly for the people of his constituency, Belagavi and Karnataka,” Kovind tweeted.
“Shri Suresh Angadi was an exceptional Karyakarta, who worked hard to strengthen the Party in Karnataka. He was a dedicated MP and effective minister, admired across the spectrum. His passing is saddening. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this sad hour. Om Shanti, “Modi said on Twitter.
Union Interior Minister Amit Shah expressed regret at Angadi’s disappearance and said he will always be remembered for his selfless service to the nation and the BJP.
BJP President JP Nadda described him as a leader who dedicated his life to the organization.
“Very saddened by the passing of Central Minister Shri Suresh Angadi Ji. He was a remarkable leader who dedicated his entire life to the organization and went on to serve the society with the utmost diligence and compassion. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and followers , “he tweeted.
Railways Minister Piyush Goyal said on the microblogging website: “Deeply distraught over the unfortunate disappearance of Suresh Angadi ji. He was like my brother. Words are short to describe his commitment and dedication to people. My thoughts and Prayers are with him. Family and friends in this hour of need. Om Shanti. ”
Former Prime Minister and JDS head HD Deve Gowda expressed his sadness over the disappearance and tweeted that Angadi was like a “little brother”.
Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrasekhar also called the death “tragic, terrible and sad news”.
“Shocked and saddened by the news of the passing of my colleague from MoS, Shri Suresh Angadi ji. It is an unfathomable loss to the Government, the people of Karnataka, and the Party. Your selfless service during Covid19 is still vivid before our eyes. My condolences to his family, “Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy tweeted.
Karnataka’s chief minister, BS Yediyurappa, said he was surprised to learn of Angadi’s disappearance. He recalled Angadi as a “courteous, kind and popular leader” and said that his death is a “great loss not only for the party, the state but also for the whole country.”
The 65-year-old BJP deputy passed away around 8 p.m. at the AIIMS trauma center, which has been converted into a dedicated Covid-19 facility, hospital sources said.
He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Angadi, a fourth-term MP for Belagavi in Karnataka, announced on September 11 on Twitter that he had contracted the disease and had asked everyone who was in close contact with him in the previous days to monitor his health and get tested in case of any symptoms. He is the Prime Minister of the Union who has died of coronavirus. At least six MLA and three MPs have previously succumbed. Former President Pranab Mukherjee, who died on August 31, was also diagnosed as Covid-19 positive.
India’s Covid-19 count on Wednesday was 45,62,415, including 9,43,480 active cases, 35,42,664 recoveries and 76,271 deaths.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, various Union ministers and BJP leaders mourned Angadi’s death. The national flag will fly at half-staff on Thursday at all government offices in Delhi, the Interior Ministry said.
Born on June 1, 1955 into a Lingayat family from Somawwa and Channabasappa Angadi in the Koppa village of Belagavi, Angadi graduated from SSS Samiti College of Commerce in the same district. He did his law degree from Raja Lakhamgouda Law School in Belagavi.
A businessman by profession, Angadi took a big leap in his political career when he was appointed Vice President of the BJP in Belagavi in 1996 and made his way into the party.
He was elected a deputy in the Lok Sabha elections in 2004, and again in 2009. He was elected for a third term in 2014, when the BJP came to power in the Center, and for a fourth term in the general elections last year, after that he was appointed Minister of State for Railways of the Union.
As junior rail minister, Angadi spoke quietly but harshly when responding to media inquiries on various aspects of the performance of national carriers. He was always armed with facts and figures of projects that were underway while addressing the media.
Angadi was instrumental in powering Bengaluru’s long-pending suburban rail service. The Rs 15,990 million project aims to connect 148.17km of the city through four corridors and has a 2025 deadline.
“Shocked by the passing of Shri Suresh Angadi, Union Minister of State for Railways. Shri Angadi, a kind leader, worked tirelessly for the people of his constituency, Belagavi and Karnataka,” Kovind tweeted.
“Shri Suresh Angadi was an exceptional Karyakarta, who worked hard to strengthen the Party in Karnataka. He was a dedicated MP and effective minister, admired across the spectrum. His passing is saddening. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this sad hour. Om Shanti, “Modi said on Twitter.
Union Interior Minister Amit Shah expressed regret at Angadi’s disappearance and said he will always be remembered for his selfless service to the nation and the BJP.
BJP President JP Nadda described him as a leader who dedicated his life to the organization.
“Very saddened by the passing of Central Minister Shri Suresh Angadi Ji. He was a remarkable leader who dedicated his entire life to the organization and went on to serve the society with the utmost diligence and compassion. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and followers , “he tweeted.
Railways Minister Piyush Goyal said on the microblogging website: “Deeply distraught over the unfortunate disappearance of Suresh Angadi ji. He was like my brother. Words are short to describe his commitment and dedication to people. My thoughts and Prayers are with him. Family and friends in this hour of need. Om Shanti. ”
Former Prime Minister and JDS head HD Deve Gowda expressed his sadness over the disappearance and tweeted that Angadi was like a “little brother”.
Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrasekhar also called the death “tragic, terrible and sad news”.
“Shocked and saddened by the news of the passing of my colleague from MoS, Shri Suresh Angadi ji. It is an unfathomable loss to the Government, the people of Karnataka, and the Party. Your selfless service during Covid19 is still vivid before our eyes. My condolences to his family, “Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy tweeted.
Karnataka’s chief minister, BS Yediyurappa, said he was surprised to learn of Angadi’s disappearance. He recalled Angadi as a “courteous, kind and popular leader” and said that his death is a “great loss not only for the party, the state but also for the whole country.”
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