Former Minister Newlai Tingkhatra passes away, Governor, CM mourn as condolences pour in

Itanagar: Former Minister of DoTCL, Transport and State Transport Services Newlai Tingkhatra has passed away last night. He was undergoing treatment at Medanta Hospital, Gurgaon since April 25 last.

Earlier, the former minister was admitted in Aditya Hospital, Dibrugarh following a massive brain stroke he suffered in the wee hours of April 24 at his hometown Kanubari in Longding district, and then evacuated to the Medanta hospital in a critical condition.

Tingkhatra, 62, is survived by his wife, three sons and four daughters. A three-time MLA from Kanubari assembly constituency, late Tingkhatra belonged to Wancho tribe.

Born on June 28 1952 at Kanubari in Tirap district (now, Longding), late Tingkhatra, an Arts graduate, was first elected to the State Legislative Assembly in 1999 from Kanubari and then in 2004 and 2009, and had served the State in various capacities. He had also contested the recently held Assembly election on an INC ticket from Kanubari seat.

Following his entry in State Assembly in 1999, he became Chairman, Arunachal Pradesh Forest Corporation till October, 2001. He was inducted as Cabinet Minister (Agriculture) in July 2003 and continued up to July, 2004.

He was re-elected in 2004 and became Minister for Environment & Forest, Mines & Minerals. Again he was re-elected during October, 2009 and was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary (Social Welfare, Women & Child Development) and later, inducted as Cabinet Minister and given the portfolio of Water Resources Development, Women and Child Development, Social Justice, Empowerment and Tribal Affairs during Nov 2011, besides the portfolios of Transport and Co-operation.

Late Tingkhatra will also be best remembered as a pioneer in tea industry in this frontier state. He was an example of self entrepreneurship through sheer hard work and all sincerity, and there was no looking back as he embarked upon serving the people through social services and active political life.

A business cum political leader, late Tingkhatra was a true lover of wildlife and a crusader against social malice, and he led the people from front in the struggle against all that challenges facing peace and development of the society.

Meanwhile, State Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma and Chief Minister Nabam Tuki expressed deep sense of shock and grief at the sudden demise of Tingkhatra and offered their condolences to the bereaved family.
In his condolence message, the Governor said late Tingkhata was a distinguished leader of Wancho community, who made huge contribution towards peace and development in the State, particularly in the eastern districts of Tirap and Longding. He will always be remembered for his yeoman services and his development oriented endeavours and initiatives.

Chief Minister Tuki, who visited the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi where the mortal remains of late Tingkhatra were brought for post mortem and other necessary formalities for sending the body back to his hometown Kanubari for last rites, recalling his long association with Tingkhatra said, “I have lost a good friend. He was a senior politician and one of the longest serving Ministers in the state who contributed significantly to public life.

Today is the time to reflect on his notable achievements including his immense contribution towards the creation of Longding district. I pay my homage to him and pray that God may give strength to his family members at this hour of grief.”

A team deputed by the Chief Minister is taking care of formalities for bringing the mortal remains of the departed leader back to his hometown tomorrow. He has also directed the State machinery for arranging the official funeral service which is likely to be held on 11th May (Sunday) at Kanubari.

The CM was accompanied by Dr K Jayakumar, AICC secretary in-charge of Arunachal Pradesh, who also offered condolences on behalf of the party, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi. A host of dignitaries including senior leaders from the State namely Wanglin Lowangdong, Kumar Waii, C C Singpho, Karya Bagang, Mama Natung, Political Secretary to CM Bamang Tago were also present to pay their last respects to the departed leader.

BJP national general secretary Tapir Gao and State NCP president Gicho Kabak and general secretary Nima Sangey also visited AIIMS to pay their tributes to late Tingkhatra.
Terming him as honest and straightforward, Kabak and Sangey said, his services towards the state in different capacities will be remembered forever.

Expressing their sadness on the passing away of Tingkhatra, former minister Chowna Mein along with his wife Nang Sati Mein, also an ex-legislator, said he was not just a colleague but a very dear friend and like a brother to us. His good natured humour and his ability to always see the positive even in tough situations made him a man liked by all.

He was also a gentleman and a politician par excellence. I am sure the future generations of the area will emulate him and carry forward his vision. He will be dearly missed, Mein said in a condolence message.

Meanwhile, public leader Gabriel Denwang Wangsu, who also contested this year’s election from the Kanubari seat, said the demise of Newlai Tingkhatra, Minister for Transport, Co-operation and DoTC is an irreparable loss that brings to an end an era of development in the society.

“In his passing away I have lost an elder with whom I shared common vision of peace and development for the people of Kanubari Assembly Constituency. My sincere condolence to all the members of his family and I pray the Almighty for granting peace to the departed soul,” said Wangsu.

The rank and file of Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) led by their president Mukut Mithi also mourned the sudden and untimely demise of Newlai Tingkhatra and prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul.

In a condolence meeting here today, the APCC president termed him as active, hard-working who served the party with sincerity and dedication and made immense contribution for all round development of the State as a politician and a social worker. His untimely demise is a great loss to the INC party in particular and the State as a whole. His immense contribution for the welfare of the State will be always remembered by the people of the State, he said.

The rank and file of State unit of Bharatiya Janata Party too expressed shock and condolences over the sudden demise of Newlai Tingkhatra. In a meeting at the BJP’s State office here under the chairmanship of its president Tai Tagak, the party also praised the departed leader for his dedicated and selfless services to the State and the people.
Mourning the untimely demise of Newlai Tingkhatra, the Arunachal Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee (APMCC), in a condolence meeting here said that the State has lost a very able and energetic politician (in Tingkhatra) and prayed to the Almighty to rest his departed soul in peace.

3-day state mourning declared

On account of the sudden demise of former minister Newlai Tingkhatra, the govt of Arunachal Pradesh is going to observe a three-day state mourning with effect from May 8 to 10 next, official sources said.
During the period of state mourning, the national flag will be flown half mast throughout Arunachal Pradesh and the state govt offices outside where it is flown regularly.