Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

PM, Sonia arriving in Itanagar today

By Spl Correspondent

NEW DELHI, May 5 � Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi are arriving in Itanagar tomorrow to pay homage to Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, AICC general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi announced here today.�

Within hours of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister�s death being officially confirmed, a special meeting of the Union Cabinet was held this morning to condole Khandu�s death. The Cabinet meeting was followed by a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) at Congress president�s 10 Jan Path residence. The meeting was attended by the Prime Minister and other senior colleagues of the party.�Dwivedi further said that the meeting began with Gandhi speaking a few words about Khandu.�

Meanwhile,the Home Ministry announced the funeral protocol for the Chief Minister.� State funeral will be accorded to the late Chief Minister. The Central Government offices in Arunachal Pradesh will remain closed on May 6, the day of the funeral. The national flag will fly at half-mast on May 5 and May 6, in Arunachal Pradesh and in all State and UT capitals, including Delhi. A blackboarded obituary notification to be published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary on May 6.

�The Cabinet condoled the untimely and tragic death of the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, in a helicopter crash. Khandu vigorously pursued development activities particularly for augmenting water supply, electricity, communication facilities, agriculture and livestock development, and setting up schools and hospitals including in far-flung villages of the State. Through several new initiatives, he helped establish synergy between the schemes of the State and the Central governments. Dorjee Khandu passed away in tragic circumstances. In his death, the country has lost an eminent leader, an able administrator and a compassionate human being, who was committed to all-round development of Arunachal Pradesh. The Cabinet places on record its deep sense of grief and loss and extends its sincere condolences to his family and to the people of Arunachal Pradesh,� the Cabinet resolution said.

The CWC Thursday condoled the �sudden and untimely� demise of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu in a helicopter crash and said he had achieved a lot at a relatively young age.�

�His untimely demise is a loss for the party, which will be felt for a long time,� the CWC resolution said. The party conveyed its condolences to the family of Khandu, his supporters and people of Arunachal Pradesh.�

Meanwhile, condolence messages poured in on Thursday. In a message, President, Pratibha Devisingh Patil said that she is deeply saddened by the untimely and tragic death of Khandu. �Khandu was a politician who actively spent his life in public affairs and who deeply understood the pulse of the people.� I had an opportunity to interact with Khandu during my visit to the beautiful State Arunachal Pradesh in April, 2009.� I shall always remember him for his warmth, hospitality and the welcome he extended to me.� He shall always be remembered for his commitment to the uplift and welfare of the people of Arunachal Pradesh� the President said.�

�I am deeply grieved to learn about the sad demise of Khandu, distinguished, highly popular and charismatic leader who is deeply respected by the people of the State. During his political career and many years in public life, he has shown exemplary devotion and dedication to the allround development of the State and its people. Khandu believed that the real well-being of a society cannot be measured by material development alone but by the human development of its people. His �People First� policy focused on education and health sectors and designed to bring about equitable distribution of the fruits of development.

The Prime Minister in his condolence message to the late leader�s wife Rinchin Drema, said that in Khandu�s passing away the State of Arunachal Pradesh and the country have lost an experienced and able leader who spent long years in dedicated public service. �I learnt with great sadness of the tragic demise of your husband Dorjee Khandu. He was a veteran politician of Arunachal Pradesh, who worked tirelessly to promote the interests of the State. He worked for Arunachal Pradesh�s development with dynamism and energy. Khandu worked hard for the development of Arunachal Pradesh and served the State with distinction after being appointed the fifth Chief Minister of Arunachal.�

Meanwhile, the BJP condoled the tragic and untimely death of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister and his four colleagues.

Next Story