BENGALURU: Karnataka government has declared a three-day state mourning till November 14 as a mark of respect to Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar, who died early on Monday morning. An official release from the state government said, “His last rites would be performed with full government honour.” Kumar died at a private hospital in Bengaluru, where he was being treated for lung cancer for several months. The government notification said there would be no official programs held during the state mourning, and that the national flag would fly at half mast on all government buildings. Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said he has “lost a great friend”. “Our families had a friendship beyond politics. He always valued and gave priority to friendship. I have lost a great friend in his death.”
