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Karnataka minister Umesh Katti dies of heart attack

September 7, 2022
Bharat Times

Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister Umesh Vishwanath Katti passed away due to cardiac arrest on Tuesday night. He was 61.

According to sources, Katti collapsed in the bathroom of his Dollar’s Colony residence here and was rushed to the hospital. State revenue minister R Ashoka said according to doctors, Katti had no pulse when he was brought to the hospital. He termed Katti’s death a huge loss to the BJP and to the Belagavi district.

“Deeply saddened by the untimely demise of my close colleague Karnataka Minister of Forests Umesh Katti. With his demise, the state has lost a skilled diplomat, active leader and loyal public servant,” tweeted CM Bommai. The chief minister is on his way to the hospital.

Umesh Katti was handling two portfolios in the Basavaraj Bommai government: Forest and Food and Civil Supply. He is survived by his wife, son and daughter.

Several of Bommai’s cabinet colleagues, including Water Resources Minister Govind Karjol, Health Minister K Sudhkar and several BJP leaders rushed to the hospital upon receiving the news.

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Leader of Opposition and former chief minister Siddaramaiah tweeted, “Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of food and civil supplies minister Umesh Katti. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family. May his soul rest in peace.”

One of the senior ministers of Belagavi district, Umesh Katti, was an eight-time MLA from Hukkeri assembly constituency. He had expressed his desire to become the chief minister and was often in the news for his separate North-Karnataka statehood stand.

He entered politics following the demise of his father Vishwanath Katti in 1985.

Before joining the BJP in 2008, Katti was with the Janata Party, Janata Dal, JD(U) and JD(S). He had earlier served as a minister in the Cabinet headed by J H Patel, B S Yediyurappa, D V Sadananda Gowda and Jagadish Shettar.

SCHOOLS, COLLEGES SHUT IN BELAGAVI

The Karnataka government has announced a holiday in schools and colleges in Belagavi following the death of Umesh Katti.

“Umesh Katti’s body will be shifted by air ambulance. All procedures will be done after public viewing till 2 pm at Sankeshwara. Last rites will be performed with state honours at Bagewadi Belagavi. Holiday announced in schools &colleges today in Belagavi,” CM Bommai was quoted by ANI as saying.

Terming his death a huge loss for the state, the chief minister added, “I’ve lost a very close friend of mine. he was a brother to me. He had some heart issues but we never thought he’ll pass away so soon. He has done a lot of work for the state. He handled several portfolios efficiently. It is a huge loss for the state.” (sic)

(With agency inputs)

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