Yogi Adityanath‘s father Anand Singh Bisht passed away in AIIMS, Delhi today morning. Yogi Adityanath is the current Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. He was in a meeting regarding coronavirus when he received the saddening news. However, he stood up from the meeting only after it was over.
Yogi said in a statement that he will not be attending his father’s funeral in Uttarakhand due to lockdown. He said, “I am very saddened to hear the news of my father’s demise. My father has always taught me to be faithful, hardworking and selflessly. I wanted to be with him during his final moments, but could not due to my responsibility to protect Uttar Pradesh’s 23 crore people. I will not be able to attend the funeral programme tomorrow due to the fight against coronavirus. I appeal to my mother and my relatives to follow the lockdown protocols while attending the funeral. I will visit after the lockdown ends.”
His father used to live in Panchur village of Uttarakhand’s Yamkeshwar area. He had retired as forest ranger from the state Forest Department in 1991. He was admitted on Mar 15 after he had complications in kidney and liver.
His body has been taken back to the village for last rites.
Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Uttar Pradesh government Awanish Awasthi said in a statement: “Honourable CM’s father left for his heavenly abode at 10.44 am. Our deepest condolences.”
Other political leaders including Smriti Irani and Akhilesh Yadav offered their condolences.
Uttar Pradesh is one of the most populous state in India. It has reported 969 coronavirus cases including 14 deaths so far.