HUBBALLI: Various organisations and individuals mourned the death of Union minister H N Ananth Kumar . M P Pralhad Joshi broke down when he got the news of Kumar’s death and recalled his days with the bereaved leader.“As we had been neighbors for decades, we were like family members. I have lost my best friend and elder brother. When I became MP for first time, he guided me about all aspects of parliamentary procedures. As his mother and father were victims of cancer, he had intended to build a mega cancer hospital in Hubballi . The irony is that he too succumbed to cancer,” he said.At condolence meeting at the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce of Industry (KCCI), its president V P Linganagoudar said Ananth Kumar played a key role in setting up Jan Aushadhi Medicine units in the nation and succeeded in reducing the price of kneel chips and stents. Vice presidents Mahendra Laddad, G K Adappagoudar and Ashok Tolanavar said Ananth had showed concern towards development of North Karnataka by bringing four-lane highway, South Western Railway headquarters and many more.City District Congress Committee president Altaf Hallur, general secretary Rajat Ullagaddimath, Bangaresh Hiremath and Shajman Mujahid expressed grief over the death of Ananth Kumar. “Barring party barriers, he had good friends in all parties. He was an able parliamentarian and people-friendly politician,” they said.In a condolence meeting held at the City District BJP office, president Nagesh Kalaburgi, former MLA Veeravhadrappa Halaharvi, deputy mayor Menaka Hurali, former NWKRTC chairman Mallikarjun Sawakar, Mahesh Tenginakai, corporators Shivanand Muttannavar. Shivu Menasinkai and others recalled their moments with Ananth Kumar.BJP SC-ST Morcha leaders offered condolence to their leader at Bankapur Chowk. Nagaraj Tagaragunti, Hanumantappa Doddamani, Arun Huddali and others recalled contributions of Ananth Kumar to state and nation.Sanskaar English Medium School founder president Mahendra Singhi recalled Ananth Kumar’s connection with Hubballi and said he was in regular touch with the city despite his busy schedule as union minister.

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