Arunachal Assembly pays tribute to departed leaders

: The Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly today paid tribute to two former members and a sitting member who died recently.
Speaker T Norbu Thongdok recalled the contributions made by the legislators for development of the state. Terming Health and Family Welfare Minister Jomde Kena, who died at Guwahati on September 4 after a prolonged illness at the age of 52, Thongdok said he was a public figure of eminence and his death had created a void in the states political circle.
The Speaker also remembered the 59-year-old Jully Siji who died on May 16 this year. In 1984, he was nominated to the Legislative Assembly as MLA from the Puroik Community and was instrumental in re-grouping Puroik villages of Maching and Jiping and contributed largely in bringing awareness on social issues.

Thongdok recalled the contribution of former deputy speaker Tadik Chije who died on October 9 after a prolonged illness. He was 63.
Taking part in the discussion, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said that the sudden demise of Jomde Kena, who as a member of Team Arunachal had just started to bring reforms in the health department, is a bolt from nowhere.
In his demise, our state has lost a seasoned politician and I have lost an elder brother, who was more than a friend, Khandu said.

Khandu also announced to name an institution in Kenas memory.
The chief minister termed Chije as a down-to-earth person and also recalled the contribution of Jully Siji who worked for the welfare of the Puroik community.

Most of the MLAs also participated in the obituary reference. Later, the House observed two minutes silence as a mark of respect to the departed souls.