New Delhi, Nov 12 (PTI) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Monday condoled the demise of Union Minister Ananth Kumar, saying he was a "dedicated statesman."

Kumar, 59, died at a private hospital in Bengaluru in the early hours of Monday after battling lung cancer for several months.

In a tweet, the Vice President Secretariat quoted Naidu as describing Kumar as a "colleague for years together, from students' movement to Parliament"

"Shocked to learn about the sad demise of the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Anant Kumar. He has been a colleague of mine for years together, from students' movement to Parliament. He was a dedicated statesman," the Vice President said.

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