SHILLONG: Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee celebrated the birthday of AICC president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday by holding a State level seminar on the life and contributions of B.R. Ambedkar with special reference to the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution.
The members present wished Sonia long life and good health so that she may be able to continue to lead the party and inspire the rank and file.
The meeting also highlighted the failures of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre and the achievements of the Congress-led MUA government in the State, and also the need to strengthen Vichar Vibhag (intellectual department) of MPCC at the function held at Congress Bhawan, here.
Lapang, while talking about Sonia, recalled the “supreme sacrifice she made at the altar of the nation in handing over the Prime Minister’s post to Manmohan Singh in 2004”.
Inaugurating the seminar, Lapang spoke of the life and contributions of Ambedkar with special reference to the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution and the tribal people of Meghalaya.
He also recalled how as member of the drafting committee of the Constitution, Jawaharlal Nehru had visited Shillong and stayed at the residence of Late Rev. J.J.M Nichols Roy at Qualapatty to know about the economic conditions of the tribals of the State and the necessity to include the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution for protection of the tribal land and the traditions and culture of the people.
Others who presented papers at the seminar included MPCC vice president A.H.Scott Lyngdoh, MPYC president Richard M. Marak, and Convener, AICC Vichar Vibhag, New Delhi, S Rejaul Laskar.
The seminar was attended by party MLAs, MDCs, chiefs of frontal organisations, MPCC office bearers, DCC presidents, BCC presidents and members of Vichar Vibhag from all districts of Meghalaya.