Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 13: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today broke down twice while remembering her father and late Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and was unable to deliver a speech at a function to release book on Mufti Sayeed at Convention Centre, Jammu.
As Mehbooba was called to deliver the speech after release of book on Mufti Sayeed, written by PDP MLC Firdous Tak, she was virtually in tears and unable to start the speech. She took water and waited for few minutes to settle down.
Speaking for about four minutes, she again broke down. Though the PDP leaders tried to console and help her to stand and resume the speech, she was unable to do so and had to cut short the speech within five minutes. She resumed her seat.
A number of times earlier also, Mehbooba broke down and was in tears while speaking on Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Her sister Dr Rubaya Sayeed too was in tears while remembering Mufti Sayeed on his first death anniversary in Srinagar on January 7.
In her very brief address, Mehbooba said Mufti Sayeed had treated everyone alike and never differentiated between any party leader or worker.
“He (Mufti Sayeed) used to love or snub everyone alike. Every party leader and worker was equally dear to him,” he said.
Mehbooba said in politics, Mufti Sayeed’s only aim was to serve the people. “He never went for the chair. Serving people was his only motto,” she asserted.
The Chief Minister recalled that during 2015 September-October Assembly session in Srinagar, Mufti had even snubbed Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh when his party legislators had beaten-up one of the MLAs.
Mehbooba said one of the great virtues of her father was that he taught his family to live the life of a common man despite himself being in power and position, even at the highest level for decades together. She said late Mufti Sayeed considered and practices all people as part of his extended family and would give them the same attention of their problems as he would to his own children.
The Chief Minister said Mufti Sayeed always dreamed about his people and their welfare. She said he would always advise her that service to mankind was the biggest among all prayers before God. She said she always saw him besieged with the problems and difficulties of common people.
Mehbooba’s younger brother Tasaduq Mufti, who had recently joined the PDP, was also present at the function.
Earlier, addressing the gathering, former Deputy Chief Minister and veteran PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig called upon the party Ministers to have direct contact with the party workers by following the path shown by Mufti Sayeed.
“I want to tell those who are in power, a reference to the party Ministers that they should follow the path shown by Mufti Sayeed and have direct contact with the workers,” he said.
Baig recalled that when Mufti Sayeed formed the PDP in 1999, there were only 203 workers and leaders in the party. The next day, 20 of them withdrew their signature and then only 153 were left.
Asserting that Mufti was known for taking bold and risky decisions for the welfare of people, Baig said his decision to tie-up with the BJP to form the coalition Government was one such decision but unfortunately he passed away.
Baig recalled that Mufti Sayeed had even taken on then Union Finance Minister Jaswant Singh in 2003 when the latter spoke about Jammu and Kashmir Bank.
“Mufti had said that Jammu and Kashmir Bank is the only institution of the State and if it was touched he would quit,” Baig recalled.
Meanwhile, a book containing speeches of former Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and write ups on him by some famed writers was released by the Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti.
The book has been compiled by Member, Legislative Council and former journalist, Firdous Tak.
The book contains some of the historic speeches delivered by late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed including the address to the United Nations General Assembly in 2006, first address in the Legislative Assembly after taking over as Chief Minister in 2002, addresses on party’s foundation day in 2005 and in 2015.
The book also contains articles by renowned writers like Madhu Kishwar, Prem Shankar Jha, Barkha Dutt, Ashok Bhan, Iftikhar Geelani, Sajad Ghani Lone, David Devdas, Sanjay Nahar, Prof. Happymohan Jacob, Neerja Choudhary, Ghulam Nabi Khayal, Prof. Rekha Choudhary, Shujaat Bukhari, Zaffar Choudhary, Peerzada Ashiq and others on various aspects of the life and contribution of late Mufti Sayeed.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
