NC pays tributes to Sheikh Abdullah on his 38th death anniversary

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Party President, Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Vice President Mr. Omar Abdullah on Tuesday paid glowing tributes to Sher-e-Kashmir Baba-e-Qoum Hazrat Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah on his 38th death anniversary.

According to a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the party president and vice president led the party functionaries, workers and delegates in offering glowing floral tributes and Fateh prayers at the final resting place of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah. The duo also offered Fateh prayers and floral tributes at the final resting place of Madar-e-Maharban Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah.

While paying tributes to Sher-e-Kashmir, Party President said, “The spirit of secularism and tolerance possessed by Sher-e-Kashmir was the cumulative effect of the environment which generation after generation has fine-tuned the psyche of Kashmiris. Sher-e-Kashmir was not any different, he also exhibited the spirit of tolerance, mutual respect and camaraderie towards all religions, sects and creeds. He made earnest efforts to strengthen it; his political struggle for the restoration of people’s rights wasn’t exclusive, on the contrary it was inclusive. A mass movement organizer, Sheikh Sahib’s struggle was never aimed to alleviate the suffering of particular followers of a faith. He worked tirelessly, suffered incarcerations throughout for the total redemption of the entire human kind living in Jammu and Kashmir from abject poverty. He gave a new lease of life to the fear paralyzed people of all the regions of J&k; he not only restored the lost identity of the people of the state but also ensured its protection through various agreements with the center.”

He further added, “In order to provide a joint platform to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he rechristened the Muslim Conference to National Conference. The first cabinet he headed was insightful of his secular temperament; people like GL Dogra, Sardar Budh Singh, Kushak Bakula, and DP Dhar were given important portfolios in the cabinet he headed. He also didn’t let the communal frenzy of 1947 permeate into Kashmir; he educated his people about the merits of a progressive and a secular polity. At a time when the entire sub-continent had turned a favorite hunt of vultures in the run up for partition, it was in Kashmir that Mahatma Gandhi saw a ray of hope, and that ray of hope was none other than Sher-e-Kashmir. He remained opposed to violence all his life being conscious of the fact that it also increases the miseries of people. He outright rejected everything that did not meet his requirement of secularism, socialism, participatory administration, and development. On this day I pay my tributes to this greatest son of the soil. The best tribute to him, however, would be to follow ideals, which undoubtedly were far ahead of his and still have universal acceptance,” he said.

Party Vice President while paying tributes to Sher-e-Kashmir said, “He belonged to that glorious tribe of great men, who changed the course of history. He bequeathed people with equal rights irrespective of their regional and religious affiliations. A true democratic, he ushered in grass roots level democracy in J&K much before it was even thought of in other parts of the country. His land to tiller reforms, single line administration, abolition of big landed estates, abolition of debts, universal adult franchise, gender neutral education helped the subjugated, underprivileged and wretched. The sleuth of people friendly measures undertaken by him provided succor to the people living in all regions of J&k, not just Kashmir. He continued to clutch on the principles of secularism regardless of his sufferings at the hands of those at the helm of affairs in New Delhi. I pay my earnest tributes to him, the best one would be to draw strength from his values and struggle towards implanting them in public life for the betterment of the people of J&k,” he said.

Those who offered floral tributes and Fateh prayers at the grave yard include Party GS Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar, Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani, Muhammad Shafi Uri, Chaudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Muhammad Syed Akhoon, Mubarak Gul, Sakina Itoo, Shammema Firdous, Shammi Oberoi, Irfan Shah, Dr Bashir Ahmed Veeri, Qaisar Jamsheed lone, Mir Saifulah, Sheikh  Ishfaq Jabbar, Peer Afaq , Altaf Kaloo, Showkat Mir, Tanvir Sadiq, Salman Ali Sagar, Younis Mubarak Gul, Ashan Pardesi, Er.Sabiya Qadri, Mushtaq Guroo, YNC, Women’s wing, Minority wing , Media Cell, and legal cell functionaries and office bearers. Among others scores of workers, delegates and parent body functionaries also offered floral tributes and Fateh prayers on the graveyard.

On this occasion, commemorative functions marked by Fateh Khawani were held across all the district headquarters of Kashmir. Party Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar, district president Kulgam Abdul Majeed Bhat Larmi led workers in paying tributes to Sher –e Kashmir at townhall Kulgam, Central Zone President Ali Muhammad Dar, Abdul Ahad Dar, Manzoor Ahmed Wani at Budgam, District president GM Mir at Pulwama, Vice District President Reyaz Ahmed Khan at Anantnag, Showkat Hussain Ganai at Shopian, JavaidAhmed Dar, GH Rahi at Baramulla, Mir GR Naz at Bandipura. Similar functions were also held at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan Jammu, party office Kargil, Pir Panjal, Doda, Kistawar units.

Meanwhile Party’s General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar has expressed gratitude to the party functionaries and workers for observing the 38th death anniversary of Sher-e-Kashmir with traditional fervor and enthusiasm. He also appreciated the functionaries for ensuing strict adherence to COVID-19 protocol and required health advisories—(KNO)

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