SHILLONG, MAR 9: Legislators cutting across parties in Meghalaya paid their homage to the sitting legislator from Chokpot (L) Clifford R Marak, who passed away last month. Memories of Marak, who was known for his Garoland movement and as active member of the assembly was spoken by those who participated during the obituary references on the first day of Meghalaya budget session on Monday.
Few of them have even referred to Marak as the father of the Garoland while for some he was known as ‘Rule Book Master’.
Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma said, “We have lost an effective leader of the state. The vacuum left by Marak will take a long time to filled up.”
68 years old Marak, who was known to be vocal demanding separate Garoland, passed away at a hospital in Guwahati on February 28 after suffering from liver and kidney diseases.
Chief minister Mukul Sangma referred to Marak as champion for focusing on a very important agenda of the state- the creation of a separate Garoland. “He (Marak) has been consistence on his movement and continue to carry forward this agenda for which he started his own party – the Garo National Council (GNC). He was a man with consistent approach and a man with clarity.”
According to Sangma, the state has very few legislators who are willing to take up issues to ensure justice and insulating people from being subjected to discrimination. He also recalled how Marak would pull up the government in any issues which requires its immediate attention.
Echoing similar views, opposition leader Donkupar Roy said, “We have lost a friend especially in the opposition. Now we are left with only 16 members.” Saying that Marak was known as a master of the Rule Book since 1998, he said, “He was a person who was well verse with rules,” adding “He was a man ready to take part in any issues which reflects that he knew issues faced by the state and country.”
Stating that the Garoland movement will continue, Roy said, “We hope that in next few months, the empty seat will be filled up and in this case someone from the family has to take so that through that there is continuity in fulfillment of the agenda raised by GNC during the election and we hope that the person who will occupy his place should have the same ideology and same vision as that of Marak.”
Chief Adviser to the Government of Meghalaya DD Lapang said that Marak’s political careers have gone a long way and he was known as the father of Garoland adding his dynamo and spirit of movement is known to everybody. His passing away is a great loss to the family, Garo hills and the state as a whole, he added.
Meghalaya State Planning Board (MSPB) chairman Salseng C Marak said that prior to his joining politics, Marak was a dynamic students’ leader which at times created problems for the government. “He was really active in his own way for the cause of the common people and I appreciate that he championed the causes of the people of Garo Hills region.” He added.
Remembering his active participation in the proceedings of the house, Marak recalled, “We would be missing him in the assembly and his demise is difficult to fill in the vacuum he created.” The state assembly also remembered as many as 11 leaders whom the country has lost in the past three months.- By Our Reporter
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