Former WB CM Jyoti Basu dies at 95

Kolkata, Jan 17: CPI M veteran leader and former Chief Minister of West Bengal Jyoti Basu passed away here on Sunday, Jan 17.

"I have come here to give you very sad news. Jyoti babu is no more with us," Left Front leader Biman Bose announced to reporters.

Basu had suffered multi-organ failure and was on a temporary pacemaker since Saturday night, Jan 16.

95-year-old Basu, who had suffered multi-organ failure was on a temporary pacemaker since Saturday night, Jan 16.

Basu's personal physician Dr Ajit Kumar Maity said that the veteran leader breathed his last at 11:47 am at the AMRI Hospital.

Jyoti's Basu's body will be taken to funeral parlour Peace Haven from the hospital, party leader Shyamal Chakraborty said. His eyes have been donated.

The last rites will be held on Tuesday, Jan 19.

The West Bengal government has declared a holiday on Monday, Jan 18, as a mark of respect to Basu.

The Communist icon was hospitalised after a pneumonia attack and admitted in the Intensive Cardiac Care Unit (ICCU) of the Salt Lake-based private hospital on Jan 1.

Born 1914 in Kolkata, Basu became chief minister of West Bengal in June 1977. He stepped down voluntarily on health grounds in Nov 2000.

OneIndia News