Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday urged the people of Arunachal Pradesh to help complete the unfinished task of the former Chief Minister, Dorjee Khandu, who died in a helicopter crash.
“Khandu was a great leader that Arunachal Pradesh had produced. His death is a great loss to the State as well as the nation. He was visionary who worked tirelessly for all round development of the State. It is for the people of Arunachal to help to complete his unfinished task,” said Dr Singh after placing a wreath on Khandu's coffin at the official residence of the Chief Minister here.
United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and a host of other central leaders also paid homage to Khandu.
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New Pradesh Chief Minister Jarbom Gamiln, senior State Congress leaders, senior Ministers from Assam and Meghalaya were also present.
Dr. Singh and other Central leaders spoke to the family members of Khandu and expressed their condolences. They left for New Delhi around 11 p.m.
Congress Member of Parliament Takam Sanjoy told journalists that the last rites would be completed on May 11. The body would be buried in accordance with the customs of the Monpa tribe to which Khandu belonged.
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Later, the body of 55-year-old Khandu was taken to the Raj Bhawan helipad in full State honours. The coffin was carried atop a field gun, which was pulled by an Army truck. People lined up enroute to pay tributes to the late leader.
The body was taken to Tawang. From there, it will be taken to Khandu's ancestral village Gyangkhar, and it would be kept there till May 11 when the last rites will be performed.