Meghalaya's longest serving legislator passes away

Shillong: Meghalaya's oldest and longest serving legislator who fought single-handedly against Uranium mining in the state, Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, passed away at a hospital here on Saturday, family sources said.

The 86-year-old veteran and most decorated politician of his time, Hoping, who represents Nongstoin constituency of West Khasi Hills district in the Assembly, breathed his last at around 1 am at Northeast Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, they said.

He was admitted at the only super-specialty hospital in the NE region on Sunday due to chest congestion but subsequently developed other complications which deteriorated his health condition.

NEIGRIHMS medical superintendent Dr A Phukan told PTI the legislator died of pneumonia and septicemia and multi organ failure.

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, Speaker AT Mondal and Leader of Opposition Donkupar Roy have condoled his demise.

Hoping who led the Hill State Peoples Democratic Party (HSPDP) as its president is known for his pioneering campaign against Uranium mining in the state and also for a separate state for the Khasi-Jaintia tribes.