UP CM Yogi Adityanath's father passes away

He was 89.

State Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awnish Awasthi confirmed that Bisht breathed his last at 10:44 am.

Bisht, undergoing treatment in the National Capital's AIIMS since Mar 15, was critical and put on ventilator.

On Sunday night , senior BJP leaders, including party president J P Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, had visited AIIMS to enquire about his health.

However, Yogi Adityanath said he will not take part in the last rites of his father tomorrow, to ensure enforcement of lockdown and to defeat coronavirus pandemic in the state.

"I wanted to be with my father in his last moments. My duty towards the welfare of 23 crore people of Uttar Pradesh amid COVID-19 pandemic kept me away from being with him. I will not be able to attend the last rites of my father on April 21. I request my mother and other relatives to follow lockdown norms during the funeral ceremony," Adityanath said in a letter.

Condoling the death of Adityanath's father, former Uttar Pradesh CM Mayawati tweeted, "It is sad to hear the demise of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's father Anand Singh Bisht..."

"A heartfelt tribute Yogi Adityanath's father," tweeted Adityanath's immediate predecessor Akhilesh Yadav.

(Image Credit: UNI)