Srinagar, Nov 5: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly held a solemn session on Tuesday to honour the memories of 57 prominent figures who made significant contributions to the state and its public life. The tribute session, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, recognized the legacies of former presidents, prime ministers, governors, former MLAs, and MLCs.
In his address, Abdullah reflected on the enduring influence of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, particularly his approach to Jammu and Kashmir. Recalling Vajpayee’s commitment to dialogue and peace, Abdullah suggested that adherence to Vajpayee’s principles could have potentially prevented many of the challenges currently facing the region.
“Vajpayee’s policy of dialogue was critical for our region. When he visited Pakistan in 1999, his efforts were not only diplomatic but deeply symbolic,” Abdullah said. He highlighted Vajpayee’s iconic visit to Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore as part of his effort to ease Indo-Pakistani tensions.
“Vajpayee famously said, ‘We can change friends, but not neighbours,’ urging peace even during difficult moments,” Abdullah noted.
Abdullah also touched on Vajpayee’s attempts to improve relations along the Line of Control (LoC), recalling how the former prime minister advocated for people-to-people exchanges between India and Pakistan.
“Vajpayee believed in building bridges, opening cross-border routes to foster closer ties between the people on both sides, a vision sadly overlooked in recent years,” Abdullah remarked.
The Chief Minister also referenced a key moment in the state’s history—the autonomy resolution proposed by the National Conference in 2000. He recalled that while the proposal was initially rejected, Vajpayee later appointed Arun Jaitley to engage in dialogue with the party, acknowledging the unique needs of Jammu and Kashmir. “Vajpayee’s openness to dialogue on autonomy was a rare and valuable effort,” Abdullah said.
The session also paid tribute to a range of influential figures, including former President Pranab Mukherjee, former Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, and former Jammu and Kashmir legislators. Abdullah noted the historical significance of the tribute, especially given the ongoing changes in the region. “This could be the last time we pay respects to leaders from Ladakh, now a separate union territory,” he remarked.
In closing, the Chief Minister encouraged members of the Assembly to draw inspiration from the lives of those being honoured.
“These individuals dedicated themselves to public service. We should learn from their work and strive to serve the people with the same commitment,” Abdullah said, as the House observed a two-minute silence in their memory.
