Shillong, February 20: The Meghalaya Assembly suspended all scheduled business for Friday as 60 legislators, led by the chief minister Conrad K Sangma paid their rich tribute to VPP Member of Parliament from Shillong Dr Ricky AJ Syngkon, who passed away in a city hospital on Thursday night.
“As a mark of respect to late Dr Ricky AJ Syngkon, all business listed for today will be suspended and we will have only the obituary reference,” Speaker Thomas A Sangma informed the House.
He added that a revised calendar of sittings would be circulated later.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma paid an emotional tribute to Shillong MP Dr Ricky AJ Syngkon, describing his death as a profound loss for Meghalaya.
“It is with a very deep sense of sorrow that I stand here today to pay our respect to late Dr Syngkon,” he said in the Assembly, adding that the shock was felt across the state.
Conrad recalled meeting Dr Syngkon in Delhi just 15 days earlier, when the MP proposed establishing a National Institute of Social Defence in Meghalaya.
“He was very keen, so I requested him to send me a note, which he did. The last message was, ‘Good evening Sir, please see the note for the institute for your kind perusal,’” Conrad said.
“I remember that moment… he had this charm, charisma, and simplicity… you felt he was an old friend.”
He highlighted Dr Syngkon’s humility, noting an occasion when the MP arrived early at a St Mary’s School function by riding a scooty.
“That is Dr Syngkon — simple, humble, a man of faith and truly committed to doing good for the people,” Sangma said.
The chief minister said he learned of the collapse while reviewing budget papers on Thursday night and immediately contacted officials and hospitals, but Dr Syngkon was declared dead at Roberts Hospital.
Conrad later visited the hospital with deputy chief ministers – Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar and MLAs, then accompanied the family as the body was taken to Pohskeh.
With the funeral likely on Saturday, Sangma announced a government holiday in all districts of the Shillong parliamentary constituency so people could attend.
“It has been a great loss for the whole state… this is a vacuum which will be difficult to fill,” he said, expressing condolences to the bereaved family and praying for strength for them and his supporters.
Joining the CM in mourning the sudden demise of Dr Syngkon, Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma described it as an irreparable loss to the state.
“I would like to convey my deepest condolences to all his associates, partners and colleagues and the multitudes who loved him,” Mukul said.
“We continue to pray that the Almighty will extend His blessings to comfort and give fortitude to all those now saddened by this sudden loss.”
He noted that Dr Syngkon’s death was a “big shocker” and difficult to comprehend.
“He was a passionate public figure who decided to enter public life, and we could see the patience and resolve he had to truly represent the people,” Mukul said.
“In his loss, we have lost a very promising young man who was just in the initial innings of public life and was making a mark not only at the state and regional level but also at the national level.”
Mukul said the state would have benefited from Dr Syngkon’s continued presence in politics. “Words are not enough to describe the patience and resolve he brought to one of the toughest professions,” he added.
Closing his tribute, Sangma prayed for strength for the bereaved family: “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted, and may God Almighty cover each one of the siblings of late Dr Ricky and all his loved ones who were closely associated with him.”
