Arunachal assembly pays tribute to Kalikho Pul

Itanagar, Sep 8: Arunachal Pradesh assembly on Sept 7 paid tribute to former chief minister Kalikho Pul who was found hanging at his official residence on August 9.

Speaker Tenzing Norbu Thongdok and Chief Minister Pema Khandu led the house in paying tributes to Pul during the inaugural day of the two-day special assembly session convened to ratify the GST Bill.

Initiating the obituary reference to Pul, Thongdok described him as a statesman and said in his death the state had lost a great personality. Khandu termed Pul's death as 'shocking' and said the state government had already constituted a committee headed by an IGP rank officer to investigate it.

"As soon as the committee submits the report, the matter will be discussed with all the members of the house," he said. Responding to criticism from opposition BJP members who alleged political turmoil as the reason behind Pul's suicide, Khandu said after the Supreme Court verdict on Arunachal government, all Congress members supported his leadership, including the former chief minister.

"Pul had helped my father Dorjee Khandu during his tenure as chief minister in taking important decisions. During the (November) political development I was with him and even I resigned from the ministry to support him," Khandu added.

Appreciating Pul's efforts in the development of Anjaw district, which he represented, Khandu appealed to the people to support the family members of the departed leader in the by-election to the constituency. Participating in the discussion, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein termed Pul as a good parliamentarian and the transition of Anjaw district started in 1995 when Pul became its MLA for the first time.

"Today the district could be replicated by others as a model district in terms of best road communication and infrastructure."

"His death has created a void in the state's political arena," Mein added. Obituary reference was also made of Tumpak Ete who died in his Aalo residence on August 13.

The speaker called him a popular writer and composer besides an able administrator, while the chief minister said he always worked for the state's socio-economic development. Mien said Ete as a social activist who was instrumental in documentation of the indigenous faith and culture.

The house observed two-minutes silence as mark of respect before it was adjourned for the day.

PTI