Patna, January 29: Hours after the former Union defence minister George Fernandes passed away at the age of 88 years in the national capital, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced two-day state mourning on Tuesday. The former socialist reformer-turned-politician’s last rites would take place on Wednesday.

Briefing more about the last rites of Fernandes, social activist and former Samata Party president Jaya Jaitly said, “He (Fernandes) had expressed his wished earlier to be cremated but during his last days. He said he wanted to be buried. So, we will cremate the body and bury the ashes, to fulfil both his wishes.” After his death, Jaitly was the one to confirm the details of his last journey. George Fernandes Dies at 88: Key Highlights of The Political Career of Former Defence Minister.

According to the information received, Fernandes had Alzheimer’s’ since the last 17 years and was diagnosed with Swine flu some days ago. Though no confirmed official reports have been made as of yet. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences in the morning, following which other BJP leaders and Union ministers too condoled on his death.

The social reformer has seen many ups and downs in his political career. Staring from the Anti-emergency movement in the late ’70s to serving as the Union defence minister in late PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government between 1998 and 2004, Fernandes has seen the politics of changing India.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 29, 2019 12:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).