Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 29: Senior National Conference (NC) leader, Javed Rana and All India Confederation of SC/ST/OBC Organizations today demanded continuation of birth anniversary of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah (founder of NC) as official holiday.
Expressing anguish over dropping of Sheikh Abdullah’s birth anniversary from the list of holidays, Javed Rana while talking to media persons in Mendhar (Poonch), lashed out at the Centre over playing petty politics. He said that Sheikh Abdullah’s contribution cannot be forgotten by anyone.
He said that Sheikh Abdullah’s contributions cannot be forgotten by anyone as he played an instrumental role in accession of Jammu and Kashmir with Union of India.
“Today if Jammu and Kashmir is a part of India, it is all because of the efforts made by our great late leader Sheikh Abdullah,” the former MLA of Mendhar said and demanded the Government of J&K UT to rethink on the issue and continue birthday of Sheikh Abdullah as official holiday.
All India Confederation of SC/ST/ OBC Organizations, in a meeting, condemned the decision of the Government that led to cancellation of holiday on birth anniversary of late Sheikh Abdullah, observed every year on December 5.
RK Kalsotra, State president of the Federation, said that the most vital reason for Sheikh Abdullah’s popularity was land reforms, which most people identify through the slogan, ‘land to the tiller’. No wonder he was called Sher-e-Kashmir (Lion of Kashmir).
“If vulnerable sections in J&K have rights over land and habitable conditions for living, it is only because of Sheikh Abdullah and his legislations,” Kalsotra said, adding, rather than appreciating and acknowledging such personalities, exclusion of holidays over political fiascos by the Government, is highly unacceptable and worrisome.
Kalsotra and other members present at the meeting demanded that the Government should look into the matter and restore the dignity and respect which Sheikh Abdullah deserves, by at least continuing his birth anniversary as an official holiday.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel