The National People’s Party (NPP) today marked the 76th birthday anniversary of Late P.A Sangma and its 11th foundation day with various programmes held across the State.
In West Garo Hills, a memorial lectures was organised at the NEHU, Tura campus which was attended by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Editor-in-Chief of The Print, Shekhar Gupta as special speaker.
Conrad during his speech said a true dedication to late PA Sangma would be to follow in his footsteps and his principles, to always keep the nation and the people first.
He recalled his father’s irreplaceable principles and values which he shared with the people. “Late PA Sangmaji has been a mentor and a true leader who has really taught us and guided us (his children) to always ensure that whatever we do in life, especially in politics, that it must be with keeping the people first and ensuring that every decision we take is driven by what is good for the people of our state, and of this country,” he reminisced.
He talked about the ethics, values and principles taught to them by the late leader, who was also the former Speaker of Lok Sabha. “We look at the foundation stones, we look at this auditorium built by him in 1988, and we remember, yes, Mr. PA Sangma built this. These are just infrastructure or certain parts of what he built. But it is the different values, the different kind of principles, the different kind of thoughts that he had shared with us which will continue to live on,” he added.
Gupta, remarked that PA Sangma had left too early and that a lot of left to be done for the tribal population of India. He highlighted that fact that India’s 8 per cent population is tribal, representing around 10-11 crore people, which means India has the largest tribal community in the world. Yet there was not a single tribal leader who is presently seen as a pan-India or national leader representing the voice of this population, which is scattered around the country. “This is the void left by left PA Sangma, as he had risen to such a stature and was still growing, being seen as a tribal leader who represented all tribals of India.,” he said.
Gupta highlighted the importance of tribal population to the nation and said tribals are needs to keep India’s cohesion, and someone must talk about them, to educate the rest of India about them and their ways of life.
In Ri Bhoi, the party felicitated meritorious students during the SSLC examination 2023 and national award film maker, Dominic Sangma at the Don Bosco Higher Secondary School Byrnihat.
Cabinet Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh and Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun attended the programme as guests besides Umroi MLA, Damanbait Lamare, Jirang MDC, Victor Rani, Parish priest of Byrnihat, Fr. Anil Joseph, teachers, students and leaders from various parts of Ri Bhoi.
Speaking on the occasion, Lyngdoh said that the NPP will continue to serve the people of the state and take up issues concerning the people. She said the party will make Meghalaya prosper, especially in development.
In Shillong, a blood donation camp was held at the NPP office which was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong and other leaders of the party.
