SHILLONG, Sept 16 - The Meghalaya Assembly today paid glowing tribute to �People�s President� APJ Abdul Kalam, with members cutting across party lines eulogizing the former President�s principles and urging the Government to commemorate his death anniversary in a befitting way.
Paying tribute to Kalam, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said the passing away of Kalam has left a vacuum throughout the globe which would be hard to fill. �The loss of our dear President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam is a great loss for the Nation and the entire globe,� Sangma said during the first day of the Autumn session of the Assembly.
Describing Kalam as a multi-faceted personality, Sangma said the former President was a teacher, scholar, scientist, counselor and a God-fearing person. The Chief Minister stated that the best way to get an insight about Kalam�s personality is by reading some of his books which he had penned.
Recalling the circumstance under which the President passed away here in Shillong on July 26 this year, Sangma said the President passed away doing what he loved most, which is motivating and teaching the youths.
He also paid glowing tribute to former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Patty Ripple Kyndiah who passed away this year. Describing Kyndiah as an active social-worker, veteran politician, administrator and writer, Sangma said the death of Kyndiah has also left a vacuum in the state and country, which would be hard to fill.
Sangma also paid tribute to another senior Congress leader and former Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region, Biyoj Krishna Handique who passed away at the age of 82 years on July 26 this year.
Participating in the obituary reference, Paul Lyngdoh from the Opposition United Democratic Party, described Kalam as a scholar par excellence and said, the former President would always remain an inspiration for youths, scholars and the general public for generations to come for his tremendous contribution towards the nation.
Lauding the renaming of Aurangzeb Road in New Delhi, near Meghalaya House, after the former president, Lyngdoh urged the State Government to take a similar initiative and identify an important landmark in the state and dedicate it in the name of Kalam.
The Opposition Member was also of the opinion that the State Government should commemorate the former President�s death anniversary in a befitting manner as he passed away here in Shillong.
Echoing Lyngdoh, former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Salseng C Marak said Kalam�s death anniversary should be commemorated in a befitting manner and urged the Government to exercise its mind on the matter. Recalling the former President, Marak said, Kalam would always be remembered for his simple living and high thinking. He was also of the opinion that the passing away of the former president at Shillong has brought the city into the limelight of the entire nation and globe.
