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Pranab Mukherjee, former President of India, passes away at 84

Former Indian president and senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee died aged 84 in New Delhi on Monday evening, weeks after he was operated upon to remove a clot in the brain.

Mukherjee, who was on life support, had recently developed a lung infection following which his condition deteriorated, reports said.

“There is a decline in the medical condition of Hon’ble Shri Pranab Mukherjee since yesterday,” the Army Hospital, where the Congress stalwart was admitted, had reported on Monday morning.

In a deep coma since his brain surgery on August 10, Mukherjee had also tested positive for COVID-19 during treatment.

Mukherjee served as India's President between 2012 and 2017 and his political career spanned over five decades. He also held top portfolios — including Finance, Defence and Home — as a senior Congress leader. Having served a five-year term as the President, Mukherjee refused to contest again citing health concerns.

His passing on was announced through a tweet by his son, Abhijit Mukherjee.

President Ram Nath Kovind led the tributes to the deceased.

PM Narendra Modi said he was ‘blessed’ to have Mukherjee’s ‘guidance’ and ‘support’.

Home Minister Amit Shah said he was ‘deeply anguished’ at the news.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed his condolences.

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said he joined the country in paying homage to Pranab.

Here are some more tributes: