NEDF condoles PA Sangma's demise

The  North  East  Dialogue  Forum  (NEDF)  expresses  its  deep  shock  in  the  untimely  and  sudden  demise  of    Purno  Agitok  Sangma.  NEDF members  express  a  sense  of  deep  loss  at  his  departure  of  this  earthly  abode  and  also  our  sincere  sympathy  with  his  wife,  off springs,  grandchildren,  near  and  dear  ones  in  this  period  of  grief,  loss  and  bereavement  who  are  in  deep  sorrow  and  pain.

For  the  last  three  (3)    years,  the key  members  of  NEDF  had  been  actively  engaged  with  Late    P. A. Sangma,  as  the  Chairperson  of  the  NE  MPs’  Forum,  to  have  the  Armed  Forces  Special  Powers  Act,  1958  (AFSPA)  repealed.  Our  delegation  from  the  States  in  the  North-Eastern  region  did  meet  him  several  times  as  also  with  other  members  of  the  MPs’  Forum.  He  took  personal  interest   with  pain  and  trouble  to  arrange  meeting  between  MPs  from  the  region  with  members  of  NEDF  in  the  Parliament  Building. In last April 2015, he informed us that a delegation met PM on the issue to repeal AFSPA.

It  came  as  a  surprise  to  NEDF  members  to  have  heard  and  listened  to  sharing  by  many  MPs  that  they  too  have  witnessed  and  experienced  the  high  handedness  and  committed  on  them  and  their  family  members  by  personnel  of  the  Armed  Forces  in  the  guise  of  AFSPA  provisions.  Seven years back, Late    Sangma  himself,  became  a  victim  of  AFSPA  when  he  visited  Moreh,  India’s  border  town  with  Myanmar  and  in  Manipur,  on  an  official  tour.  NEDF  was  also  pleasantly  surprised  to  receive  the  kind  of  solidarity  offered  to  our  delegation  and  providing  hope  through  their  extending  support  for  engagement  with  the  Hon’ble  Prime  Minister  of  India  to  repeal  AFSPA.

 Sangma  had  special  and  deep  concern  for  the  undaunted  struggle  of  Irom  Sharmila  and  her  courage  to  valiantly  fight  against  all  odds  to  have  AFSPA  repealed  and  which  has  crossed  fifteen  (15)  years  of  her indefinite  fast.  All  the  MPs  present  in  the  meeting  and  across  party  lines,  expressed  serious concern  for  Irom  Sharmila. His  sudden  passing  away  is  indeed  a  great  loss  to  India’s  political  arena  and  has  cast  a  gloom,  particularly, for  the  peoples  of  North  East  India,  struggling  for  peace,  justice,  equality  and  against  discrimination.

 NEDF acknowledges and expresses sincere appreciation  to  Late    P.  A.  Sangma’s  dynamic  and  positive  leadership  in  working  for  the  betterment  of  poor  and  tribal  communities, not  only  of  the  North  East  but  of  the  whole  country.

 May  the  Almighty  grant  his  soul  eternal  rest  and  peace  and  at  the  same  time,  provide  succour  to  all  the  bereaved  ones  in  this  hour  of  despair  as  also  to  continue   guiding  the  destiny  of  men  and women  towards  a  better  tomorrow.