CM breaks down twice in House
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma broke down twice in the Assembly on Friday while condoling the death of Tura MP and former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno Sangma after he moved a Resolution expressing grief over the leader’s sudden demise which was adopted in the House on the first day of the Budget session.
Tears first filled the eyes of the chief minister when he recollected the frequent visit of Purno Sangma to his home at Ampati to meet the parents of the chief minister who were Purno’s teachers.
“When he used to cross Ampati, he never failed to visit our house because he was a student of both my parents and during his visit, he gave all respect deserving to teachers,” the chief minister said wiping his tears with his handkerchief.
Earlier, moving the Resolution to condole the death, the chief minister said he was shocked as he heard the sad news.
“It was difficult to believe that PA Sangma is no more. I tried to confirm with police headquarters and Meghalaya House in Delhi. I also spoke to his sons James and Conrad who were on the way to Delhi,” Sangma said.
He said no leader from this part of the country achieved such an extra ordinary innings in political and public life.
Later, for the second time, the chief minister was in tears when he said that the demise of Purno was a great loss for the people of Garo Hills.
“The death of the great leader has created a vacuum. In the near future I do not know whether any leader will be able to reach that level. And it is a great loss particularly for my people of Garo Hills,” the chief minister said this in tears and sat down by stating that he would not be able to speak further.
Earlier, the chief minister said after he joined politics, he had the privilege of hearing many good things from the great leader and also about issues he raised about Garo Hills and the Garo tribe.
The chief minister also recalled his association with Purno while he was studying MBBS at RIMS, Imphal as many grievances of the students were addressed by him.
Sangma also remembered how Purno as the Chief Minister had engaged himself with people at Rockside Bungalow in Shillong though his tenure was short lived due to instability.
“Moreover, it was quite encouraging for me as a young leader to sit glued to the TV to watch the proceedings of the Parliament when he was the Lok Sabha Speaker,” the chief minister recalled.