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Picture of doctors paying last respect to former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee being circulated in social media

All state government offices, institutions and educational institutions are closed in Meghalaya on Friday with the State Government announcing a state holiday to mourn the death of former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The announcement was made by Meghalaya Chief Secretary, Yeshi Tsering on Thursday in a message dispatched to Deputy Commissioners of all the 11 districts in the State.

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Tsering said that as a mark of respect to the departed dignity, the former Prime Minister of India, it has been decided that seven days of state mourning will be observed throughout the State from August 16.

During this period, the national flag will be flown at half mask throughout the State and there will be no official entertainment during the period of state mourning for seven days till August 22.

Meanwhile, Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma in a condolence message described Vajpayee, a veteran and able administrator who had served the nation in different spheres.

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“He was a Member of Parliament for over four decades, being elected ten times to the Lok Sabha and twice to the Rajya Sabha until 2009 when he retired from active politics.

“Vajpayee will be remembered for his keen interest to develop the north-eastern states which was very clear duirng the day-long brainstorming on socio-economic development of the north-eastern states with his key ministers then L K Advani, Yashwant Sinha, deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, K C Pant and Governors and Chief Ministers of the north-eastern states in Shillong on January 21, 2000,” Conrad recalled.

Conrad said that under Vajpayee as Prime Minister, the Central government created a separate department of Development of North-Eastern Region (DONER) to ensure all round development in the region, the East-West corridor connecting Assam’s Silchar with Gujarat’s Porbandar and many more.

“In his passing away, the nation has lost an eminent public figure and multi-faceted personality who made immense contributions for the greater good of our country. On behalf of the people of Meghalaya and from the family members of my late father Purno Agitok Sangma, I send our deepest condolences and sympathies to his family members. I pray to the Almighty to give the family the strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss,” the Meghalaya Chief Minister stated.