Meghalaya Assembly Day 1: Glowing tributes paid to Vajpayee, Jacob, Somnath

Shillong: The Meghalaya Assembly on the opening day of the autumn session on Friday paid glowing tributes to national and regional leaders of the country who passed away.

Chief Minister, Conrad Kongkal Sangma while paying glowing tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said he remembered him for his “long association with my father Purno A Sangma.”

According to Conrad, both Vajpayee and Sangma shared “good chemistry and understanding.” “He had love and care for the people of the country,” the Meghalaya Chief Minister added. According to him Vajpayee had love for the people of the northeast.

On MM Jacob who served as the Governor of the state for two-terms, Conrad said that he was connected with the people of Meghalaya and his contribution was immense.

“People won’t forget MM Jacob for the love he had towards the people of Meghalaya,” the Chief Minister said.

On veteran Communist party leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, Conrad said it was not easy to manage the House sessions.

“But I fondly remember how he efficiently managed the House and carried everybody along.” He said.

Opposition leader, Dr Mukul Sangma was appreciative of Vajpayee for being able to run a coalition government for full term. “He had the skills to keep comrades of diverse political background glued together,” Dr Sangma said. He also said that Vajpayee was a man who was acceptable to all political parties. On Jacob, Dr Sangma remembered him as a “wonderful guide”. The opposition leader pointed out that when he was the Chief Minister, he got guidance and suggestions from him for the betterment of the people of Meghalaya.

Dr Sangma also said that people of the state was inclined to think that he was “one among us”. He was a Governor with a difference. He would like to give quality time to people who wanted to meet him,” the opposition leader said. Meanwhile, Dr Sangma recalled, Chatterjee – a Communist leader of the country – a one who fought against communal and divisive forces. “Losing him at this juncture was a big loss to the nation,” he said.