Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 5: Cautioning against threat to the very idea of democratic and secular Jammu and Kashmir, as envisioned and nurtured by Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, National Conference today exhorted people to stand unitedly and fight the divisive forces, hell bent on trampling glorious ethos of the State.
“We are at the cross roads of our history where secular credentials are at stake in the wake of elements inimical to amity and tranquility taking center-stage”, Provincial President Devender Singh Rana said while leading the senior party leaders and workers in paying homage to Baba-e-Quom on his 110th Birth Anniversary at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here.
Former Ministers Surjeet Singh Slathia, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Mirza Abdul Rasheed, Abdul Gani Malik and Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Shah Bukhari were among the prominent speakers who paid homage to Sheikh Abdullah.
Referring to the atmosphere of mistrust and intolerance generated by divisive forces, Mr Rana expressed concern over the situation having taken such a turn in which the people were being singled out on the basis of their religious identities. The minorities, he said, were feeling a sense of insecurity, a phenomenon which was never ever witnessed in the country. “We should be proud of our religion but at the same time we must respect other religions too, which is essence of all the religions”, he asserted.
Mr Rana also referred to the machinations being made by divisive parties like BJP to trifurcate the State and repeal Article 35-A of the Indian Constitution. He said this was a sinister move to muzzle the identity of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The public opinion was being misled by describing this proviso as a region specific, he said, adding that this Act is a safeguard to the provision in the Constitution by the Mahraja in the State laws to protect the rights of the State Subjects. He urged the people to maintain vigil against such attempts and foil the attempts of those weakening time tested amity in the State.
“The people of Jammu are progressive in their outlook and they had not mandated the BJP to browbeat minorities”, he said while lauding the resilience and spirit of inclusiveness of Jammuites.
The Provincial President paid rich homage to Sher-e-Kashmir, saying whenever the history of Jammu and Kashmir will be re-written; it will be incomplete without the mention of Sheikh Abdullah.
Paying tributes to Sheikh Abdullah, the former Minister Surjeet Singh Slathia recalled the landmark and pioneering Land Reforms Act, which he said, empowered the farmers by making them masters of their own destiny.
Describing Sher-e-Kashmir as a towering leader of his times, former minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra lauded his crucial role in strengthening the bonds of amity, brotherhood and tranquility in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions. He said his vision and far sight helped the State to grow as a vibrant entity.
Mr Sadhotra assailed the PDP-BJP Government for failure on all fronts and said the people were suffering due to wrong policies. He made a specific mention of PoK refugees and said that the recommendation of Omar Abdullah led Government for providing Rs 25 lakh to each family has been put in the back burner.
Former Minister Abdul Gani Malik described Sheikh Abdullah as an architect of Naya Jammu and Kashmir who strived for betterment of the people all his like, Former Minister Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Shah Bukhari, Former MP and Minister, Mirza Abdul Rasheed and State Vice President Rattan Lal Gupta and State Secretary Th Rachpal Singh also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, all religious prayers were held and fruits distributed among children.
MLA Mendhar Javed Rana also paid tributes to Sheikh Abdullah in a function organised in his constituency. On the occasion, he announced some developmental projects including Mankote Nar road.
The birth anniversary of Sher-e-Kashmir was observed at all the District Headquarters. District Presidents of Ramban, Sajjad Shaheen, Reasi, Jagjeevan Lal, Udhampur Sunil Verma, Doda Khalid Najeeb Suharwardhy, Kistwar Tanveer Kichloo, Kathua Ajeet Kumar, Billawar Romi Khajuria, Rajouri Shafayat Ahmed Khan and Poonch Qazi Mohammed Sayed Beig paid rich tributes to Sher-e-Kashmir and threw light on different facets of his life.
District President Jammu Urban Dharveer Singh Jamwal, District President Rural- A Satpal Lakhotra, Rural-B Kamal Arora MLA and District Samba Mohinder Gupta participated along with their workers at the main function held at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan.
Provincial Youth National Conference President Ajaz Jan also paid tributes to Sher-e-Kashmir on his 110th Death Anniversary at a function at Poonch.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
