Bhubaneswar: Odisha Legislative Assembly on Thursday passed a condolence motion on Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 defence personnel who died in a helicopter crash in Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik moved the condolence motion in the House. “With profound grief, I inform the House of the sudden and untimely demise of General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika ji, and 11 other armed forces personnel in a tragic helicopter crash in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu on December 8,” he said in the motion.
“He had an extremely distinguished career of over four decades of selfless service marked by exceptional gallantry. He was conferred with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, and many other prestigious awards,” the chief minister said.
Senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra said, “Demise of General Bipin Rawat is a great loss to the country. His untimely death in an IAF chopper crash indicates serious failure somewhere or a part of a conspiracy.”
Assembly Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro, BJP member Bishnu Charan Sethi on behalf of Opposition chief whip Mohan Charan Majhi and Communist leader Laxman Munda also spoke on the motion.
The House observed a minute’s silence in memory of the departed souls.
