SRINAGAR: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was today remembered on his 33rd death anniversary. Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed paid tributes to Sheikh, father of Dr Farooq Abdullah and grandfather of Omar Abdullah, two former Chief ministers of the State.
The National Conference (NC) founded by Sheikh organized a blood donation camp where more than 145 people, including Omar Abdullah, donated blood.
Though, different functions were organised at district headquarters to pay tributes to the founder of Muslim Conference (MC) later converted into NC for more participation in freedom struggle against Dogra rulers from all regions of the State, the main Fateha congregation was held at his grave yard at Naseem Bagh on the bank of Dal Lake.
The NC president Farooq Abdullah, his son and working president of the NC Omar Abdullah, besides all senior party leaders and workers, paid floral tributes and offered fateha to Sheikh Abdullah.
Dr Abdullah and Omar Abdullah paid rich tributes to the late leader and describing him as the architect and founder of educative, progressive and secular democratic society in Jammu and Kashmir based on justice, equality and amity between all regions and all sections of society.
Highlighting the struggle and sacrifices made by Sheikh Abdullah for the cause of people and the State throughout his life, Dr Abdullah and Mr Abdullah said welfare and public empowerment was his cherished desire and he made all possible endeavours in this direction.
Sheikh propagated and nurtured amity, brotherhood and mutual trust between various sections of society and lived as a torch-bearer of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Isahi unity.
Dr Abdullah said former chief minister laid the edifice of Naya Kashmir with a clear vision of public empowerment and involvement in the formulation and implementation of development plans in accordance with the aspirations of the people and requirements of the areas.
He said, his government would put in all efforts to work for realising the progressive, peaceful and economically welfare New Jammu and Kashmir envisioned by the late leader.
Omar Abdullah said the best way of paying tributes to the leader is to follow his footprints and work together for achieving peace and prosperity for the state and strengthening the cherished secular democratic values advocated and propagated by him.
The NC Working President said the concept of single line administration and devolution of power from central level to grassroots introduced and implemented by Sheikh constitutes the necessary pillar in good-governance and public empowerment.
He said, the revolutionary measure of land to tiller taken by Sheikh has helped a lot to engulf the gap between have and have not’s and built a society on the principle of equality and justice. A total of 146 units of blood donated by NC leaders and activists on the death anniversary of Sheikh.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of Sheikh Abdullah’s death anniversary Mr Vohra recalled his notable contribution to the state. In a message, the Governor recalled the period during which Sheikh had worked with eminent national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and had strived for strengthening the cherished values of secularism and democracy.
The Governor referred the crucial land reforms pioneered by Sheikh Abdullah, which had laid the foundations of equitable development of the state, and the high priority which he had devoted to the establishment of health and education facilities. The Governor observed that best tribute which could be paid to Sheikh would be for the people to work with a missionary zeal for strengthening J&K’s deep rooted secular traditions and the bonds of communal harmony, brotherhood and amity, for ensuring peace, progress and prosperity in the State.
Mr Sayeed also paid rich tributes to former Chief Minister of J&K State, Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, on his death anniversary.
He described Sheikh as a guiding force and leading light of the freedom struggle, who, besides making the movement inclusive, unveiled revolutionary socio-economic programmes for laying a sound edifice of Naya Jammu & Kashmir.
After taking over power, he pioneered some historic decisions on land reforms and good governance, which included the concept of Single Line Administration that brought about socio-economic emancipation of the people at the grassroots level, he added. (AGENCIES)
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel