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Vajpayee, Advani to attend funeral of Begum Akbar Jehan

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Home Minister L K Advani will attend the funeral of Begum Akbar Jehan, mother of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, who passed away on Tuesday morning after a prolonged illness.

Both Vajpayee and Advani are leaving for Srinagar in the afternoon to pay their last respects to the departed soul, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan told reporters in New Delhi.

In his condolence message, Vajpayee said, "I express my deep grief over the passing away of Begum Akbar Jehan, patron of the National Conference." He said she had played an important role in state politics. He recalled that she was involved in various social welfare activities and was the first president of the Red Cross in the state. Vajpayee said her passing away had deprived the country of a staunch nationalist and a caring person.

The Union Cabinet condoled the death of the chief patron of the National Conference, Mahajan said, adding 'her death was a loss to the nation'.

The two leaders are expected to return tonight.

PTI

EARLIER REPORT
NC meet put off as Farooq Abdullah's mother expires

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