GUWAHATI: Former Union Minister and veteran Congress leader, Santosh Mohan Deb died at the age 83 years at Silchar Medical College and Hospital in Silchar, Barak Valley in South Assam on Wednesday.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal mourned the demise of veteran political leader, who projected Assam in the national political stage in a very strong way.
In a statement, Sonowal termed his death as an irreparable loss to the country and mentioned that the former union minister relentlessly worked for the welfare of the people of the country during his life time.
Elected to the Lok Sabha in 1980 for the first time, Deb adorned the parliament for seven times. He represented Silchar LS constituency for five times and Tripura West LS constituency twice thus becoming a politician to represent two states of the country. During his active political life, Deb also served the nation as cabinet minister and minister of state with independent charge in the union cabinet.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sonowal directed the chief secretary, V K Pipersania to take necessary steps for performing his last rites with state honour. Local holiday has been declared on August 3 in the three districts of Barak Valley as a mark of respect to the veteran leader.
Former Assam chief minister, Tarun Gogoi too condoled the death of Deb on behalf of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) and recalled his contributions and service to the state and the nation.