The Government had announced a 3-day mourning period for the departed Speaker from Monday
Newmai News Network
Shillong | July 29
The mortal remains of former Chief Minister of Meghalaya and Assembly Speaker, Dr Donkupar Roy arrived in Shillong on Monday morning. Dr Roy passed away at Medanta hospital, Gurgaon on Sunday afternoon after suffering from acute diabetes. He was 64.
The former Chief Minister was the longest serving legislator and head of United Democratic Party (UDP), a regional party.
He is survived by his wife R Syiem, two sons and four daughters.
His body was flown from Delhi and from there it was directly brought to his official residence at Crinoline View Bungalow here in the city.
Earlier in the morning, a host of leaders including Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, his Cabinet colleagues and leaders of MDA partners arrived at the Guwahati airport to receive the Speaker’s body.
Governor Tathagata Roy, Leader of Opposition Dr. Mukul Sangma, political leaders, senior government officials and others came to pay their respect to the departed leader.
His mortal remains will be taken at 1 pm to Sohra on Tuesday, where the state funeral will be held on Wednesday (at 12.30 pm) before the burial at Shella, the place of his birth.
The government has declared a three- day state mourning starting Monday and a holiday on the funeral day (July 31, 2019).
Talking to media persons, Governor Tathagata Roy said with the sudden demise of Dr Donkupar Roy, Meghalaya has become much poorer as he was an outstanding political leader of the state.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said it is a big loss to the state as Dr Donkupar was a father figure and a mentor to all of us.
“At a personal level I was very closed to him… He really believed in true values of leadership like commitment to the people, the trust factor and so many qualities that he had has surely made him a true leader,” he said.
“I think we will all miss him and it is a huge vacuum in one way as he was the senior most leader in the Assembly and being Speaker of the House and being the president of one of the big constituent of the MDA he had a very important role to play,” said the chief minister.
Recalling the close association of Dr Donkupar and his late father Purno Agitok Sangma, the chief minister said, “I always saw similarity between both of them in their political way of doing things. I used to see a lot of my father’s qualities in him and he was like a father to me.”
Leader of opposition Dr. Mukul Sangma said Dr Donkupar had a unique quality and has contributed for the overall progress and prosperity of the state.
Stating that a big vacuum has been created with the shocking demise of the leader, Dr Sangma said ramification will be there after the demise of a leader of his stature, who has been able to keep his leaders clued and who has been instrumental in various aspects of governance.
Meanwhile, a notification was also issued by the Assembly secretariat informing that a vacancy has occurred in the Shella constituency due to the death of Dr Donkupar Roy.
