'An Inspiration To All': PM Modi, Amit Shah Express Grief Over Demise Of Country's First Voter Shyam Saran Negi
Negi passed away at his native place in Himachal Pradesh’s Kalpa, days after he cast his last vote in 14th Assembly elections of the hill state.
New Delhi: Independent India’s first voter Shyam Saran Negi passed away at the age of 106 on Saturday. Calling him an inspiration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and several others mourned his demise.
Recalling Negi, PM Modi, as quoted by news agency ANI, said, “When I was on my way to Himachal, I got the sad news of the passing away of the first voter of independent India, Shyam Saran Negi, who belonged to Kinnaur. The 106-year-old Negi had cast a vote for over 30 times in his entire life. Not only this, he had also cast his vote on November 2 in the Assembly elections through postal ballot. He performed his duty by casting a vote before his demise. This will always inspire every citizen especially the youth of our country. I bow my head in tribute to him with an emotional heart.”
Taking to Twitter, Amit Shah wrote, “The death of Shyam Saran Negi ji of Himachal, the first voter of the country is sad. From the first election of the country till now, he has voted in all the elections. His faith and commitment to the democratic processes of the country at the age of 106 is an inspiration to all.”
देश के प्रथम वोटर हिमाचल के श्याम सरन नेगी जी का निधन दुःखद है।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 5, 2022
देश के पहले चुनाव से लेकर अब तक सभी चुनावों में उन्होंने मतदान किया। 106 वर्ष की आयु में देश की लोकतांत्रिक प्रक्रियाओं में उनकी आस्था व प्रतिबद्धता सभी के लिए प्रेरणीय है। ईश्वर उनकी आत्मा को शांति दे। ॐ शांति
Expressing his grief, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur tweeted in Hindi, “Saddened to hear the news of the demise of Shyam Saran Negi Ji, the first voter of independent India and who belonged to Kinnaur.”
स्वतंत्र भारत के पहले मतदाता और हमारे किन्नौर जिला से संबंध रखने वाले श्याम सरन नेगी जी के निधन का दुःखद समाचार प्राप्त हुआ।
— Jairam Thakur (@jairamthakurbjp) November 5, 2022
ईश्वर से प्रार्थना है कि उनकी पुण्य आत्मा को शांति प्रदान करें।
शोकग्रस्त परिवारजनों के प्रति मेरी गहरी संवेदनाएं हैं।
ॐ शांति! pic.twitter.com/JzFXrtyeUH
Taking to Twitter, the Election Commission wrote, “Not just first voter of Independent India, but a man with exceptional faith in democracy. ECI mourns the demise of Shri Shyam Saran Negi. We are eternally grateful for his service to the Nation.”
Not just first voter of Independent India,but a man with exceptional faith in #democracy.
— Election Commission of India #SVEEP (@ECISVEEP) November 5, 2022
ECI mourns the demise of Shri Shyam Saran Negi. We are eternally grateful for his service to the Nation. https://t.co/IdmJFXXhFf
“The BJP expresses deep sorrow and condolences on the demise of independent India’s first voter Shyam Saran Negi Ji, the first voter of independent India. May God bless the departed pious soul and give him peace and salvation,” the Himachal unit of BJP tweeted.
स्वतंत्र भारत के प्रथम मतदाता श्याम सरन नेगी जी के निधन पर भारतीय जनता पार्टी हिमाचल प्रदेश गहरा दुःख एवं संवेदना प्रकट करती है।
— BJP Himachal Pradesh (@BJP4Himachal) November 5, 2022
भगवान दिवंगत पुण्यात्मा को शांति एवं सद्गति प्रदान करे।
ॐ शांति pic.twitter.com/JhJ7985nhZ
Notably, Negi passed away at his native place in Himachal Pradesh’s Kalpa, days after he cast his last vote in 14th Assembly elections of the hill state.