SHILLONG: Leader of the Opposition Congress in Meghalaya, Mukul Sangma called late Congress MLA, Clement Marak , who passed away on October, as a man and leader of the masses.
He was speaking at the Special Session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on Tuesday during the obituary references.
He further said that Clement was responsive and available to all sections of the people even though he represented a constituency which has a mixed demography.
Stating that he knew Clement Marak since he was a student and lost a personal friend with his demise, he said, “He (Clement) was man who used to speak less and act more.”
Some of the party men told Mukul that Clement hardly smiled while fondly recalling that Clement looked charming when he smiled and called him the most handsome man in the House.
Deputy Speaker Timothy Shira said he knew Clement as a school-going boy of 7-8 years and was familiar with this father.
He stated it was unfortunate the state lost a young leader leaving a great vacuum which is difficult to be filled up.
Congress MLA Zenith Sangma recalled the time when Clement broke down saying he cannot be cured anymore and was apprehensive of getting elected as he could not serve the people better.
Another Congress MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh said that Clement was a person with a sense of humility and said he was a private person who did not divulged much about his illness.
“He was least bothered about the illness,” she said, adding that she learnt from Clement the virtue of being patient while dealing with people.
She also paid tribute to former Chief Minister of Delhi, Madan Lal Khurana whom she saw when he suddenly appeared on the street in Delhi at a time when she was studying. “He was a man, I just saw on the street,” she said.
Independent MLA Lambor Malniang recalled the kind-hearted, soft spoken person in Clement Marak who would love to eat Syrwa Doh Bung (beef stew) whenever he would meet Malniang.
Recollecting the time when he asked Clement, as to how did he defeat Conrad Sangma in the elections, Lambor said, “He said maybe God wished me to continue. The son of late PA Sangma son is a good person.”
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said he got an opportunity to contest against Clement but was defeated and said he learnt a lesson from the defeat and respected Clement.