GUWAHATI, Jan 31 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today condoled the death of leading media personality of the State, GL Agarwala.
In a statement, the Chief Minister said Agarwala�s contribution to different aspects of the Assamese society was unparalleled and the people of the State would always remember his works in the fields of journalism and social service.
�By establishing newspapers such as Amar Asom and Hindi daily Purbanchal Prahari, Agarwala contributed immensely to journalism and through his GLP Social Circle, touched many lives in their time of need. His association with the Asam Sahitya Sabha while working for the development of the Assamese language and literature and his role in bringing modern technologies to the printing industry of the State would also be fondly remembered. His demise would leave a big void in society,� Sonowal said.
The Chief Minister offered his deepest condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul.
The Chief Minister also directed the Chief Secretary to take necessary steps for performing the last rites of Agarwala with full state honours.
Media adviser to the Chief Minister, Hrishikesh Goswami, Chief Secretary Alok Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Political) Kumar Sanjay Krishna and Officer on Special Duty Rajib Prakash Baruah, also condoled the death of the eminent publicist and social worker.
The Journalists� Associations of Assam (JAA) president, DN Chakravartty, and general secretary-cum-national vice president of National Union of Journalists India (NUJI) Bhupen Goswami also condoled Agarwala�s death.
Media Trust Assam, also mourned the death. Its chairman PJ Baruah, condoling the demise, said that Agarwala had rendered invaluable service as the treasurer of the 150 Years of Newspapers in Assam Celebration Committee. �It is a great loss for the State�s media fraternity,� he said. The Assam Union of Working Journalists and the All Assam Students� Union also expressed their grief at the demise.
