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Former Lok Sabha speaker Purno A. Sangma is Dead
New Delhi: Former Lok Sabha speaker Purno A. Sangma, who along with Sharad Pawar and Tariq Anwar revolted against Congress president Sonia Gandhi in 1999, died here on Friday morning following a heart attack. He was 68.
President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sonia Gandhi herself condoled the sudden death of one of the best known politicians from the northeast.
Sangma became a house hold name after presiding over the 11th Lok Sabha from 1996 to 1998 — a time when the country saw coalition politics. A tribal, Sangma was also chief minister of Meghalaya — his home state — from 1988 to 1990.
President Mukherjee said that in his death, “the nation has lost an eminent public figure and multi-faceted personality”.
Vice President Ansari credited Sangma with championing “the mainstreaming of northeastern parts of the country” and working tirelessly for the uplift and improvement of tribal communities.
Modi described Sangma as a self-made leader whose contribution to the development of the northeast was monumental. “Sangma’s tenure as Lok Sabha speaker is unforgettable. His down to earth personality and affable nature endeared him to many.”
Modi paid floral tributes to Sangma at the latter’s residence.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day in tribute after members observed a two-minute silence. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan read out an obituary.
Gandhi said “the nation has lost a tall leader and the northeast has lost an important voice” in Sangma’s passing away.
Sangma for long considered close to the Gandhi family. But in a dramatic moment in 1999, he teamed up with Pawar and Anwar to stage a revolt against Gandhi’s leadership dubbing her a “foreigner”, splitting the Congress.
Sangma, Pawar and Anwar went on to form the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). While Pawar and Anwar later more or less made up with the Congress, Sangma remained staedfastly opposed to the country’s oldest party.
Sangma was elected to the current Lok Sabha from Tura in Meghalaya on the National Peoples Party ticket, the outfit he launched in 2013.
Born on September 1, 1947 in village Chapahati in Meghalaya, Sangma graduated from St Anthony’s College at Shillong. He then went to Dibrugarh University in Assam for master’s in international relations. He also has a degree in law.
The tribal leader donned many caps – of lecturer, lawyer and journalist – before he was catapulted to national politics.
From 1991 to 1996, Sangma was a trusted lieutenant of then prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and stewarded ministries like labour and information and broadcasting.
Sangma was also the candidate of the then opposition BJP-led NDA and some regional parties for the 2012 presidential polls when he contested unsuccessfully against his “senior friend” of many years, Mukherjee.
Sangma is survived among others by daughter Agatha Sangma, also a former MP from Tura and a junior minister in then prime minister Manmohan Singh’s government.
His son Conrad Sangma was a minister in the Meghalaya cabinet.
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.