Yogi Adityanath's father dies; UP CM says can't attend funeral

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath 's father Anand Bisht died on Monday and will be cremated in Haridwar at a funeral which will not be attended by the CM, who said he is duty-bound to stay in his state. Bisht's last rites will take place in Haridwar in Uttarakhand on April 21, Media Advisor to the Chief Minister Mrityunjay Kumar said "For the success of the lockdown and the strategy to defeat the novel coronavirus pandemic, I will be unable to attend the last rites on April 21," Adityanath said. He instilled in me the values of honesty, hardwork and selfless service for public welfare in childhood itself," he said. Even as the news of his father's demise reached, Adityanath continued with a meeting with officials, whom he directed to ensure that the students of Uttar Pradesh who have returned from coaching hub Kota are quarantined at their homes. Adityanath appealed to his mother and acquaintances to follow lockdown norms and said a small number of people should attend his father's the last rites. Even after getting the news of the demise of his father, the chief minister went ahead with the meeting for almost 45 minutes," Shishir said. Shishir said the chief minister also directed that students from Kota should be allowed to go to their homes after they had downloaded the Aarogya Setu app related to COVID-19. The chief minister also reviewed ration distribution for the poor and community kitchens, the officer said. Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, deputy chief ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma, state assembly speaker Hriday Narayan Dixit and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have condoled the Bisht's demise.