Meghalaya MLAs pay rich tributes to APJ Abdul Kalam

Shillong: Legislators in Meghalaya paid rich tributes to former president APJ Abdul Kalam, who died here on July 27, during the obituary reference on the first day of the Autumn session of the Assembly on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma who was out of town when Kalam passed away at a city hospital here was especially touched while remembering the India's popular President.

"To describe APJ Kalam is very difficult...As a teacher, a scientist, a motivator, a counsellor and God-fearing. It was also a coincidence he passed away while doing what he loved doing best...Connecting and motivating the youth," he said.

Opposition United Democratic Party legislator Paul Lyngdoh said the state ought to name a landmark in the state after Kalam while also declaring his anniversary as a working day.

"We urge the state government to select an important landmark and name it after this notable and great soul of this country of ours," Lyngdoh said.

Pointing out that the government had declared a state holiday the day Kalam passed away, Paul said, "To perpetuate his memories, we should in fact have programmes and not recourse to declaring a state holiday on his death anniversary."

Echoing similar views, another UDP MLA, Jemino Mawthoh, said, "We need as a state to pay tribute to such a great leader and important leader by identifying a street, an institute or holding an event in his name."

In support, veteran Congress leader Salseng C Marak said, "It would be fit for the state government to commemorate the death anniversary of Dr Kalam."

The former president had collapsed during a lecture at IIM-Shillong due to a major cardiac arrest and later died at a private hospital.

Among those remembered during the obituary reference were veteran hill state movement leader who later joined Congress and author Paty Ripple Kyndiah and former Rajya Sabha MP JE Tariang.

A two-minute silence was also observed as a mark of respect to the leaders who died in the recent past.