SHILLONG, SEPT 26: In an avalanche of condolences that poured to mourn the death of Meghalaya’s tallest political leader and Hills State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) president and legislator Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, everyone eulogies his ‘honest, integrity, firmness and simplicity’ that defined the late doyen of Meghalaya politics.
In a political career that traversed more than fifty years, Lyngdoh, unlike other politicians, was known more for his straightforwardness, simplicity, frugal lifestyle, honesty, integrity and, of course, firmness on public issues.
As news of Lyngdoh’s demise in the wee-hours of Saturday morning at NEIGRIMHS spread like a wildfire, political bigwigs of the state rushed to his house in Kench Trace to pay their last homage to the departed leader.
Governor V Shanmuganthan, chief minister Mukul Sangma, union minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju, MP Vincent H Pala, Chief Adviser of government and Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president DD Lapang, deputy chief minister RC Laloo, home minister Roshan Wajri were among those who went to
late Lyngdoh’s residence.
MPCC president DD Lapang said that late Hoping Stone Lyngdoh was a man who put service before self and sacrificed every comfort of life to serve his people which should be a shining example for the coming generation.
The trust and popularity of the man could be gauged from what Lapang succinctly put; For all the elections he had won Hoping Stone Lyngdoh never had to campaign because he had won the trust of all the people who loved him with all their heart because of his honesty, simplicity and the principle he stood for.
Lok Sabha MP Vincent Pala could not have put it better when he said, “I find that ‘honesty’ is in his (late Lyngdoh) gene. He was an honest man.” He said he had sanctioned Rs 20 lakh on the request of late Lyngdoh for a college in Mawkyllei, and he (Lyngdoh) even donated his salary to over 400 schools in West Khasi hills district.
Meghalaya deputy chief minister RC Laloo recalled late Lyngdoh’s contribution to the state saying it is rare to get such a personality who dedicated and sacrificed so much for the wellbeing of the people and the state.
He pointed to late Lyngdoh’s characteristic as someone who never compromised on what he stood for and for what he believe like on issues of border dispute, uranium which he kept on raising and is still alive today.
Khasi Students Union (KSU) too condoled Lyngdoh’s demise saying that the state has lost a strong pillar and an honest leader of the indigenous community.
In a statement KSU general secretary Auguster Jyrwa said, “We also expressed our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed that God Almighty will give them strength.”- By Our Reporter
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