The Karnataka government declared one-day state mourning on September 7, as a mark of respect on the passing away of the BJP Minister Umesh Katti, who died last night due to heart attack. The state government in its official notification said that the last rites of the minister, who held the food, civil supplies and consumer affairs, and forest portfolios, will be performed with full state honours. A holiday had also been declared on Wednesday, September 7, for all schools and colleges, along with government offices in Belagavi.
Katti died aged 61 due to a heart attack at a private hospital in Bengaluru on the night of September 6. According to PTI, Katti collapsed in the bathroom of his Dollar's Colony residence in Bengaluru and was rushed to the hospital. Doctors said Katti had no pulse when he was brought in.
His mortal remains will be taken by an air ambulance to his home district of Belagavi, from where it will be taken to Hira Sugar Factory in Sankeshwar for the public to pay their last respects. The body will be later shifted to Katti's native village of Belladbagewadi in Hukkeri taluk, where the last rites will be performed in the evening.
During the day-long state mourning, no official entertainment programmes will be conducted and the national flag will be flown at half mast in all official buildings and places, the notification said. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday night broke down remembering his long association with Katti, calling him a "close friend and brother".
Katti was an eight-time MLA from Hukkeri assembly constituency. 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.
Katti was often in news for his statements demanding statehood for the north Karnataka region and also openly expressing his chief ministerial ambitions. Katti is survived by his wife, son and daughter.