ITANAGAR, Mar 4: Arunachal Pradesh unit of the National People’s Party today observed the 5th death anniversary of Purno Agitok Sangma, the party’s founder and former Speaker of the Lok Sabha and Chief Minister of Meghalaya here at the State NPP office with the resolve to carry forward his mission and vision for the greater interest of the nation. 
State NPP President Gicho Kabak along with other party members offered floral tributes to the portrait of Late PA Sangma. Earlier in the morning the State NPP Youth wing distributed fruits to the patients of capital’s RK Mission Hospital led by State Youth President Bage Kamsi and General Secretary NPP Youth Front Kokar Ronya. Kabak in his remembrance of the NPP founder said he was one of the most popular personalities in the Indian political scenario and rose to great heights despite coming from a humble background. Calling Late Sangma as the ‘brighter star of the Northeast’, the NPP State President recalled his record nine-time election to the LS and shouldering of key ministries like Commerce, Industry, Home, Coal, Labour and I & B and the several people-centric policy initiatives he took. His performance as the Union Labour Minister and Speaker of the Lok Sabha were particularly brilliant and spoke volumes about his leadership and statesman-like qualities and skills at consensus building, Kabak said.   
Speaking on the occasion, State NPP Vice President Nima Sangey Saling recalled his long association with Late Sangma when he was the General Secretary and Vice President of State NCP. Late PA Sangma was a great national leader from the Northeast and his vision and thoughts have become very important for the country particularly for the Northeast states, he said. He was a practical, simple and down-to-earth person who can adjust to any situation and mingle freely with people, earning respect and admiration from friends and foes alike, Sangey added. NPP State Vice-President Rudhum Sindhu, General Secretary Toko Sakha, General Secretary, State NPP Youth Front Kokar Ronya, General Secretary, NPP Women’s Front Chera Ami and others spoke on the occasion.
Born on September 1, 1947 in Chapahati, a small village in West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, PA Sangma was married to Soradini K. in 1973 and their two sons and two daughters are highly educated and established in their respective fields. Late Sangma’s second son Conrad K Sangma is the current Chief Minister of Meghalaya and NPP National President. His elder son James K Sangma is presently a Minister in Meghalaya government and eldest daughter Christi has a PhD in Architecture from the UK. The second daughter and youngest of all the siblings, Agatha K Sangma was elected to the 15th Lok Sabha from Tura and became the Union MoS, RD during the UPA government at the Centre.
Recognized both at national and international levels for his work and contribution to public life, Late Sangma was conferred with the highest civilian award of the nation, the Padma Vibhushan in 2017, also the first from Meghalaya to receive it. He was awarded with the Michael John Roll of Honour of the Tata Workers’ Union for his distinguished contribution to the cause of labour and to the parliamentary system in 1997 and the Golden Jubilee Award of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) for outstanding contribution to the cause of the working class in the same year and was nominated as the Man of the Year by Competition Success Review (CSR) magazine in 1998.
He was also the recipient of the Saraswati National Eminence Award in the category of public leadership from the South Indian Education Society, Mumbai in 2003 and the Mother Teresa Beautification Honour in 2003 for his outstanding services. State NPP PR

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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