SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on Thursday paid homage to state and national leaders for their contributions. A two-minute silence was also observed to pay respect to the departed souls.
During Day 1 of the Autumn Session, state leaders – late HS Shylla and Simon Siangshai – dubbed by some legislators in the Assembly as ‘tall leaders’ and ‘sons of the soil’ were remembered.
Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh said that Shylla was a man who stood his ground and his demise is a loss to the family and the indigenous community as a whole.
Remembering Siangshai, Lyngdoh said it was under his tenure that cement industries were set up and started in East Jaintia Hills.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said that 39 eminent personalities and leaders, hailed for their contributions, have lost their lives.
Referring to Shylla and Siangshai, he said the state has lost two tall leaders who he recalled having fond professional memories with.
Conrad also said that Shylla was a powerful orator albeit he did not understand the language as the latter would speak in Khasi.
He said that when observing the presentation of Shylla, one would get carried away with the latter’s entire oratory skills.
As with Siangshai, Conrad said he was a person of the grassroots when he noticed this particular trait when they had together toured interior village of Jaintia Hills.
Remembering former President, late Pranab Mukherjee, Conrad said he had contributed more than anyone could fathom.
He recalled former Lok Sabha Speaker, late Purno Sangma, having said that Mukherjee was a man with sharp memory.
Remembering former Union minister, late Ram Vilas Paswan, the chief minister said that Paswan had made a strong impression in national politics. Conrad said that his son, Chirag Paswan, has been working closely with him.
Leader of Opposition, Mukul Sangma, recalled that Shylla and Siangshai were great sons of the soil. About Shylla, he said, “It was a privilege to listen to his oratorial skills. A leader who was connected with the masses, farmers, downtrodden and wore many hats”.
Remembering Shylla as a man who would spend time in preaching, Mukul said that with his demise, it will take a long time to fill the void.
About Siangshai, Mukul said he was a good friend who was enterprising and made endeavours to bring investment when he was Industries Minister.
Speaking about Mukherjee, Mukul said under him, Meghalaya was covered under the World Bank in PMGSY.
Mukul added that Mukherjee was a man with sharp memory and a man who remembered names of his party workers.
Congress MLA Zenith Sangma said that Shylla has contributed politically, socially and religiously to the people of the state.
Independent MLA Lambor Malngiang, who had contested against Shylla, recalled a time when the late MLA/MDC said to him, “We speak what we have to speak during elections and after elections, we are friends”.