EMN
Dimapur, July 28
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha and former chief minister Neiphiu Rio today expressed shock and grief over the sudden demise of former President of India Dr. A.P. J. Abdul Kalam.
Rio who is also a Member, Public Accounts Committee Standing Committee on Coal & Steel Consultative Committee of DoNER, in a condolence message to the bereaved family in Tamil Nadu addressed to Mustafa Kalam, brother of late Dr. Abdul Kalam Kalam said, the ‘people of Nagaland fondly recall Kalam’s first visit to Nagaland on October 26, 2002 as President and his visit to Khuzuma village, his sagacious words of encouragement to village communities and his advocacy of empowerment of the communities with administrative and financial powers. ‘
“We also remember Dr. Kalam’s subsequent visits to our State and the unassuming manner in which he went about his activities endearing himself to the people at large.
We were heartened by his emphasis on need to overcome the huge infrastructure deficit we suffer in the North Eastern States for the development of our country,” Rio added.
Describing the late President as a great human being, Rio said, “He was down-to-earth in his approach to governance and development. He could connect with ease and benevolence, with the citizens of this country, irrespective of cast, creed and backdrop of their livelihood. We in Nagaland, and in the North East as a whole, have always considered Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam as our own and a truly ‘Peoples President’. Dr. Kalam’s words of guidance and encouragement to the youth will always be remembered and imbibed by them.”
On behalf of the people of Nagaland, Rio conveyed deepest condolence to the members of the bereaved family and prayed for eternal rest of the departed soul.
