United Democratic Party (UDP) working president and minister, Metbah Lyngdoh on Wednesday suggested that the family of Meghalaya Assembly Speaker, late Dr Donkupar Roy Dkhar should step into his shoes and carry over his legacy.
Also read: Meghalaya speaker Donkupar Roy’s body taken to hometown Sohra
Speaking at the funeral service at Dr Donkupar’s house at Saitsohpen locality, Sohra before the state funeral, Lyngdoh said that Dr Donkupar as president of the UDP has led the party with a principle and commitment not to betray anyone.
“Dr Donkupar has been maintaining one principle (in politics) and he has been telling this to me and other colleagues that the era of betrayal has gone,” Lyngdoh said.
Terming the demise of Dr Donkupar a big loss to the party, the people of Shella Constituency and the state, Lyngdoh however suggested that the family of Dr Donkupar should take over the mantle and follow his footsteps and carry over his legacy.
Shella MDC and chief executive member (CEM) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, Teiñwell Dkhar highlighted various achievements and initiatives of the late Assembly Speaker especially Shella Constiuency and the state.
The CEM who has been the close confidante of Dr Donkupar, recalled how the late Speaker won his first election in 1988 without the role of money power, and with the support of the Alliance Reconstruction of Meghalaya State (ARMS) when late Bull Lyngdoh was the president of the Khasi Students’ Union.
Terming the late Speaker a ‘matured leader’ he said that as MDC of Shella, he depended his political career totally on Dr Donkupar.
“I have been winning my elections to the KHADC from Shella under his shadow,” he said.
Stating that many aspirations of Dr Donkupar and the people are yet to be fulfilled, the CEM urged chief minister, ministers, and the MDA government to fulfill the wish of Dr Donkupar to create the South East Khasi Hills
Youngest brother of Dr Donkupar, Saiñkupar while expressing grief over his sudden demise, thanked the people of Shella for electing his brother for the seventh consecutive terms from 1988 and assured the people that the family of Dr Donkupar would be with them always.
Senior leader of the UDP from Garo Hills, Beninstand G Momin, UDP member of KHADC from Sohra Constiuency, T W Chyne also spoke and shared their personal experiences, and mourned the demise of Dr Donkupar.
Thousands of people attended the funeral service at Dr Donkupar’s residence at Sohra.