Arunachal Governor, CM mourn demise of former minister Tsering Tashi

ITANAGAR: Former Arunachal Pradesh Minister Tsering Tashi has died at his residence here after battling with cancer, family sources said on Friday. He was 69 years old.

Tashi who died on Thursday night is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter, State Surveillance Officer (SSO) Dr Lobsang Jampa, who is his brother said. Born in Khrimu village in Tawang district, Tashi had attended the Sainik School, Bhubaneshwar in Odisha and graduated from Jawaharlal Nehru College, Pasighat.

Tashi joined active politics in 1978 and won the mid-term polls in 1980.

He was inducted into the government as one of the five cabinet ministers immediately after his first election victory by then chief minister Gegong Apang.

During his first term in office, he held the portfolios of PWD and Cooperative, among others.

In his second term in office, he held the portfolios of Social-Culture, Finance, RWD and Law.

Tashi was instrumental in getting Tawang the district status in 1984 and in the formation of the Itanagar Buddhist Culture Society. His body will be kept at his residence, Tenzin Villa, in Siddarth Vihar, for his former colleagues, friends and well-wishers to pay their last respects to the departed soul, after 2 pm, Jampa added.

Meanwhile, State Governor Brigadier (Retired) Dr B D Mishra and Chief Minister Pema Khandu expressed shock over the demise of Tashi.

The Governor in his condolence letter to Tashi's wife Sange Lhamu, termed him as a veteran politician who served the State in different capacities in its nascent stage.

"One of the first generation political leaders of Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh, he served with distinction in the State cabinet and held important portfolios," Dr Mishra said.

"I join the people of Arunachal Pradesh to pray to the almighty god for eternal peace for the departed soul and give you and other members of the bereaved family fortitude to bear the irreparable loss," the Governor said in his letter.

Khandu, in his condolence message wrote, "The news came as a shocker to me. Tsering Tashi was a living legend and inspiration to many."

An ardent advocate of unity in diversity, Tashi constantly upheld age-old good relations with all other communities, the Chief Minister said.

"At this moment of grief, me, my family, colleagues in the government and people of the State extend our solidarity with the bereaved family members and convey our deepest condolences," Khandu wrote in his letter.