State funeral for Kena today, holiday as mark of respect

Hundreds pay last respects to health minister
*Staff REPORTER*

ITANAGAR, Sep 05: Wrapped in national tricolour, the coffin carrying the mortal remains of Health and Family Minister Jomde Kena was brought at the Naharlagun helipad here in a helicopter from Guwahati at around 10 am on Tuesday.
The 52-year old Kena, a resident of Gensi village in Lower Siang district died on Monday night while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Assam’s capital city. According to the doctors, he was suffering from bile duct cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma) which had with time affected other vital organs of his body.
Kena, who represented Likabali constituency, was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in 2004. He was re-elected to the House from the same constituency in 2009 and 2014. Earlier, he also held the post of deputy speaker of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
Hundreds of mourners including, ministers, legislatures, relatives and well wishers thronged the helipad since morning to pay their last respects to Kena on getting information that his body would be brought to the state capital.
Among the notables who turned up to pay their last respects to the departed leader were former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, Power Minister Tamio Taga, Parliamentary Secretary for Sports and Youth Affairs Nyamar Karbak, and legislators Gojen Gadi and Tanga Byaling. Several top-ranking government officials, union and NGO leaders, too were among the mourners seen paying floral tributes to the body of the departed soul.
Expressing shock over the sudden demise of the minister, Tuki said that Kena was a kind-hearted person and one who always worked for the welfare of the society.
“Words cannot describe the pain you feel when you lose a near and dear friend. I pray to the Almighty to grant eternal life to his soul and also give strength to the family members to bear the pain of losing their dear one,” said Tuki.
The former minister added that Kena’s demise is not only a great lose for his family members but also for the state as a whole.
Kena’s body which was kept at the helipad for a brief period with full state honours was later flown to his native village Gensi at around 12 noon.
The funeral would take place on Wednesday where majority of the ministers, parliamentary secretaries, MLAs and leaders from various political parties, followers and well wishers are expected to take part.
Meanwhile, the Arunachal Pradesh state government has declared state mourning on Wednesday and Thursday as a mark of respect to the departed soul of Late Kena.
During the period of state mourning, the national flag will be flown at half mast throughout the state while no official entertainment will be conducted.
The state government has further decided to accord state funeral to the departed soul and 
all offices, government undertakings, educational 
institutions under Government of Arunachal Pradesh shall 
remain closed on Wednesday, the day of funeral.
A condolence meeting was also conducted at the premises of civil secretariat where the secretariat officers and officials were present.
Commissioner Hage Khoda Shalla read out the condolence message on behalf of the chief secretary and others which said “Late Jomde Kena will be remembered as one of the extra ordinary politician with rare political acumen and administrative skills which made him a distinct leader in the history of Arunachal Pradesh”.
Two minutes silence was observed to pay homage to the departed soul.