New Delhi/Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday condoled the death of former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalikho Pul, saying his services to the state will be remembered.
"My thoughts are with the family & supporters of Kalikho Pul on his sad demise. His service to Arunachal Pradesh will be remembered," Modi tweeted.
Pul, a Congress rebel who had to step down as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh last month after the Supreme Court ordered removal of his government, allegedly committed suicide this morning.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also mourned the untimely demise of former Arunachal Pradesh CM Kalikho Pul.
"It is really shocking to hear the tragic death of former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalikho Pul. He was a man of grit and determination and filled with innovative ideas," Sonowal said in a message.
The country, especially Arunachal Pradesh, has lost a visionary leader who could have contributed so much towards development, he said, conveying his condolences to members of the bereaved family
The body of 47-year-old Pul was found hanging from the ceiling fan in his bedroom at the Chief Minister's official residence which he was yet to vacate.
According to doctors, the death occurred between 7 and 7:30 am.
Meanwhile, demanding a proper inquiry into Kalikho Pul's alleged suicide, Assam unit of Congress on Tuesday said BJP's "undemocratic and twisting politics" have claimed the life of the former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister.
"He (Pul) was a victim of undemocratic practices of BJP. He was a very simple person and was not used to such twisting of politics by such a big political party," Leader of Opposition in Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia said.
The ups and downs in last eight months have actually claimed Pul's life, he added.
"When he drifted away from Congress with some colleagues, BJP and NEDA (North East Democratic Alliance) claimed it as a grand success on Pul's shoulder," Saikia said.
He said Pul was a good and sincere Congress worker, who served the party well for a long time.
"With their aggressive politics, BJP tried to destabilise the governance. The region is not accustomed to such practices," the senior Congress leader said.
Demanding a proper inquiry into circumstances behind his death, Deputy Congress Legislature Party leader Rakibul Hussain said the news of Pul's demise was very "sad, sudden and shocking".
"We are getting contradictory reports on how he died. We demand that an appropriate enquiry should take place. Only a proper probe will ascertain if it was a suicide or there was some foul play," the former Congress Minister said.
