NC pays tributes to Sheikh Abdullah on 42nd death anniversary

Srinagar, Sept 07: Jammu & Kashmir National Conference on Saturday paid tributes to “Sher-e-Kashmir” Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah on his 42nd death anniversary and termed him a “man of iron determination”.
The anniversary, according to a party statement, will be observed on September 08 (Sunday). “A significant function will be held at his Mazar in Naseem Bagh, Hazratbal. In the morning, Quran Khawani, floral tributes, and Fatiha Khawani will be offered. Party president Dr Farooq Abdullah and vice president Omar Abdullah will lead the party functionaries in offering fatiha and tributes by laying flowers on the grave,” the statement said, adding that the observances will be held at Sher-i-Kashmir Bhawan Jammu and other district headquarters across J&K and Ladakh.
Paying tributes to Sheikh Abdullah, the party termed him a “father figure and political colossus, who helped change Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh from a feudal and colonial society to a free, democratic and secular one”.
“An inspiring political stalwart, the functionaries said that throughout his political career, Sher-e-Kashmir symbolised the aspirations of the Kashmiri people as no single individual could have even dreamt of doing. Although rooted in Kashmir, he had attained a national standing with his name becoming synonymous in the minds of countrymen with socialism, humanism, pluralism, and democracy,” it said.
The NC added, “His political direction to the state in the shape of Naya Kashmir manifesto had an unmistakably socialistic stamp that guaranteed freedom of press, freedom of assembly and meetings. The vision of Late Abdullah espoused providing a reasonable standard of living for all people in the state irrespective of their caste, creed, religion and region. The basic agricultural and economic plan would be the abolition of landlordism, land to tiller and people’s control over the resources of the state.”
The party said the spirit of secularism and tolerance possessed by Sheikh Abdullah was the cumulative effect of the environment which generation after generation has fine-tuned the psyche of Kashmiris,
“Sheikh sahib was not any different. He also exhibited the spirit of tolerance, mutual respect and camaraderie towards all sects and creeds. A mass movement organiser, Abdullah’s struggle was never aimed to alleviate the suffering of particular followers of a faith,” it said.
The NC said that Sheikh Abdullah worked tirelessly and suffered incarcerations throughout for the total redemption of the people in Jammu & Kashmir from abject poverty. “He gave a new lease of life to the fear-paralysed people of all the regions of J&K. 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,” it added.