TURA: Lok Sabha MP from Tura Conrad K Sangma while expressing his appreciation and gratitude to the Government of India for bestowing the country’s second highest civilian award- Padma Vibhushan, on his late father Purno Agitok Sangma has said that it was made possible because of the love and support given to him by the people of Garo Hills.
“My family together with the people of Garo Hills and the state of Meghalaya express our happiness on the bestowing of such an important award on our late father. This is because of the continuous love and support given to him (P A Sangma) for his selfless service by the people of Garo Hills and Meghalaya throughout his political life,” said Conrad.
Late P A Sangma was one of the country’s most successful political leaders who despite all odds was never defeated in an election as the electorate of Garo Hills returned him to parliament every consecutive term ever since he entered political life in the mid 1970s’.
He held several important cabinet ranks in successive Congress governments including the important Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Coal and Labour ministries. He attained his highest political position as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha in the mid 1990s’ before falling out with his parent Congress party and Sonia Gandhi.
On Tuesday night Home Minister Rajnath Singh was the first to call up Late P A Sangma’s young son and Tura MP Conrad K Sangma to break the news of the award being bestowed on his father posthumously.
“I received a call from Rajnath Singh-ji informing me that the Government of India was happy to award my late father the Padma Vibhushan for public affairs. On behalf of our family and the people of Garo Hills and Meghalaya I thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government of India,” said Conrad.
