Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 13: Rich tributes were paid to former vice president of BJP and a prominent KP leader Tika Lal Taploo on the eve of his 26th Matyrdom Day today by leaders of State BJP. The day is observed as Balidan Divas by the Kashmiri Pandit community every year since then. Mr Taploo laid down his life on September 14, 1989 after he challenged the gun wielding militants in Kashmir saying that “no bullet can kill him and Pakistan can never annex Kashmir from India’’ while strongly condemning the killing of NC leader Mohammed Yusf Halwai by the terrorists.
In this connection a function was organized at Party Headquarters here today. BJP State president & MP, Jugal Kishore Sharma, MLC Ashok Khajuria and other senior leaders, prominent social activists paid glowing tributes to Mr Taploo who was an icon of Nationalism.
The programme was organized by BJP Kashmir Displaced Unit under Triloki Nath Bhat.
Jugal Kishore Sharma, while paying tributes, said that Tika Lal Taploo was a great patriot and a prominent pillar of BJP in Kashmir, who could not be deviated from his mission of strengthening nationalist forces and a challenge to anti –national elements in the State. Having total commitment to national cause Taploo became an eyesore for the anti national elements, he added.
Ashok Khajuria said that he himself had got many opportunities to work with Taploo and was very much impressed by his simplicity and noble principles of working for the honour of the Tricolour and the Kashmiri Pandit community. He made a dig to those Partymen who are not toeing the Party line on certain issues and make contradictory statements. He warned that such elements will not be tolerated by the Party and no one will be allowed to deviate from Party’s policy and programmes.
BJP Chief State Spokesperson Sunil Sethi said that Tika Lal Taploo was the first leader who sacrificed his life in Kashmir as the anti-national elements could not digest a man like him who preached peace, brotherhood and focused on strengthening the ties of the State with the Indian Union.
MLC Surinder Ambardar termed Tika Lal Taploo as a symbol of nationalism, who stood like a rock against all the odds in Kashmir and never compromised on principles adding that we need to follow the path shown by him.
Kamla Saproo, the daughter of Tika Lal Taploo, recalled the role of her father in strengthening nationalist forces in Kashmir valley. She said her father was a great social activist also who served the man kind irrespective of their religion, caste, creed and colour. As a lawyer he never charged any fee from poor and needy people but used to pay them money from his own pocket. He would not care if his children go to bed hungry but give preference to serve food to poor and needy, she added.
She said those who killed this great humanist are the worst the worst enemies of humanity.
BJP State general secretary Munish Sharma presented the vote of thanks.
Leaders of BJP and other social organization including A K Raina, Satish Pajnoo, Balbir Ram Rattan, Sheila Handoo, P L Dutt, Shilpi Verma, Makhan Lal Bhat, Dr. A K Kaul, Ashok Bhat, Roshan Lal Raina, Rashpal Singh and Naresh Dogra also paid their tributes.
Triloki Nath Bhat conducted the proceeding of the programme.
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