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Former deputy speaker G G Swell dies at 75

Veteran parliamentarian and former deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha George Gilbert Swell died in Shillong, Meghalaya, today after a brief illness. He was 75.

Swell was admitted to a private nursing home a few days ago for treatment.

Swell was a member of the Indian National Congress for several decades. But towards the later part of his career, he jumped several parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party recently for a short stint.

Swell also served as India's ambassador to Norway and Burma. He also contested unsuccessfully the presidential election in 1992 as an opposition candidate against Shankar Dayal Sharma.

President K R Narayanan condoled Swell's death.

"I have lost a personal friend, the country a noble son who strove relentlessly for the welfare of the people, and the North-East, its most vocal advocate," Narayanan said in a message.

The President said Swell was a distinguished parliamentarian with an abiding social commitment and an orator of great range and depth and had served the nation long and well in numerous capacities, including as ambassador.

UNI

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