Ananth Kumar death: President calls it a 'tragic loss'

New Delhi : President of India Ram Nath Kovind on Monday termed death of Union Minister Ananth Kumar a “tragic loss” for the nation.

"Sad to hear of the passing of Union minister and veteran parliamentarian Shri H.N. Ananth Kumar. This is a tragic loss to public life in our country and particularly for the people of Karnataka. My condolences to his family, colleagues and countless associates," President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted.

59-year-old union minister was suffering from cancer and had returned from the US last month after getting treatment at a cancer institute in the New York. 

Ananth Kumar was the youngest minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's cabinet in 1998 and served as the Civil Aviation minister, also Minister for Tourism, Sports, Youth Affairs and Culture, Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation.

He is also remembered as the first person to speak in Kannada in the United Nations.