SHILLONG, JULY 31: Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Speaker and former chief minister Dr Donkupar Roy was laid to rest on Wednesday with full state honours even as chief minister Conrad K Sangma broke down while bidding farewell to the departed leader.
A host of political leaders across party lines paid rich tributes to the veteran regional party leader and longest serving legislator of the state, who passed away after a brief illness at a private hospital in Delhi on Sunday last.
The mortal remains of the United Democratic Party (UDP) president were brought from Delhi on Monday to his official residence in Shillong for party workers to pay their last respect and were then taken to Sohra on Tuesday to allow the public to pay their tribute to him.
A state funeral took place at the Sohra Stadium, Mawpun attended by cabinet ministers, senior political leaders and officials of the Meghalaya government in presence of family members.
Floral wreathes were laid by the dignitaries of the state at the casket bearing late Dr Donkupar Roy’s mortal remains draped with the tricolor.
A less than 3-gun salute sounded, echoing across the area, as a mark of respect to the departed leader, during the state funeral.
Despite the inclement weather, people from all walks of life including students also came to bid adieu to the leader, before he was finally laid to rest at his native village in Shella, also a constituency he represented for seven consecutive times.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma turned emotional while bidding farewell to the Assembly Speaker Dr Donkupar Roy and said that with his passing away he felt that he has lost his father again.
Sangma also recalled that he was a finance minister under the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) government led by Dr Donkupar, which lasted only for one year. “The one year that I had spent with him were truly memorable and I know everything about administrative from him,” he said.
He went on to add, “I had the privilege to work under him in many ways. I remember many things he taught me. But I can tell you the biggest thing he taught me in life and in politics trust. He told me Conrad if a leader’s word doesn’t count if the people and other leaders cannot trust a leader he is not fit to be a leader. Always remember that trust is the important thing in politics. He was a person who practices what he preached.”
“Whenever there were tough decisions to be made, he would always say keep your objective clear, know what you want to do and your decision is made already. He has simple way of looking at things and a very firm way of making firm decisions,” he said.
The chief minister said Dr Donkupar had contributed to the state in every possible way that one can imagine by holding different positions in the government from an MLA to deputy chief minister, to chief minister and to the speaker of the House adding “he has completed the circle”.
Sangma said under his leadership, the UDP also grew from strength to strength because of his commitment to the party and the ideology that he had.
Stating that the biggest tribute to Dr Donkupar is to celebrate his life, the chief minister said, “…Dr Donkupar is not here with us today but his ideas must live on. He has left this world but his visions must be completed. And Sir, I would like to tell you on behalf of the people of the state that we all miss you and we salute you and we thanked you for everything that you have done for the state and we promise you though you are not here with us today your ideas, your ideology, your vision and your love for the people will go on.”
Paying rich tribute to the great leader, Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma said Dr Donkupar was a leader who put his people and the state before everything else and he joined politics with a commitment to serve the people and the state.
“He acts as a bridge whenever decision for the larger good of the people is require to be taken. He was never into vindictive politics and does not want to people to be sidelined because of political affiliations,” Mukul said while recalling his long association with the departed leader.
UDP senior working president and nominated member of the KHADC Bindo M Lanong said that Dr Roy was a visionary leader and his desire was to see that Sohra should become a district.
Similar mention was also made by the KHADC chief Teinwell Dkhar at the funeral service at Dr Donkupar’s house at Saitsohpen locality, Sohra before the state funeral. He urged the chief minister, ministers and the MDA government to fulfill the wish of Dr Donkpuar to create the South East Khasi Hills District.
Terming Dr Donkupar as a winner, Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) leader Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar said he has won elections for seven consecutive times and this shows the long lasting love of the people have for him. “I feel to be successful, we need to really learn from this leader,” he said.
“Dr Donkupar was a man of simplicity and a man of his words. As a result of this, the MDA government was formed. I strongly believe that those who have close association will agree that he was an epitome of a true statesman,” he said.
On Dr Donkupar’s dream for the unity of the regional parties in the state, Tongkhar said, “This is an unfinish task and he has left this big job to the present leaders to complete it…”
Assembly deputy speaker Timothy D Shira while condoling the death of Dr Donkupar said the state has lost a stalwart. He recalled how Dr Donkupar conducts the proceedings of the House in a smooth and efficient manner.
By Our Reporter
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