Moulana Ansari passes away

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Sept 30: Prominent Shia cleric and opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Member Legislative Assembly (MLA), Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, passed away this morning after prolonged illness.
Ansari died in the wee hours today after prolonged illness. He along with his family members had to shift to Zadibal area after floods entered their house at Qamarwari on September 7 but the family had shifted back to their house at Darul Jawwad Qamarwari a day before his death.
The four-time MLA from Pattan Assembly segment, Ansari was a popular Shia leader of the State. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.
Born on April 26, 1940, he studied Islamic theology in Iran, Egypt and Iraq.
He started his political career in 1960s. He was nominated as an MLC in 1973 on Congress ticket but switched to Janata Party in 1977.
The Shia leader returned to Congress in 1980s and was chosen as leader of the Legislature party in the State Assembly between 1983 and 1987.
Ansari was again elected to the State Legislative Assembly in 1996 on a Congress ticket and became a Minister in the National Conference (NC) Government headed by Farooq Abdullah.
Ansari joined the NC in 2002 and was elected from Pattan Assembly segment later that year but quit the party in 2006 to join the PDP. He lost the by-election.
The Shia leader won the election in 2008 on a PDP ticket and was nominated as the party candidate for the forthcoming Assembly elections scheduled to be held later this year.
Soon after the news about Ansari’s death spread, thousands of his supporters thronged his Darul Jawad residence at Qamarwari, Srinagar.
The authorities diverted traffic between Bemina and Parimpora crossings, causing massive traffic snarls. Many areas, dominated by Shias, shutdown as a mark of respect to the departed leader. Some interior roads of old city were also closed after his body was taken to Zadibal where he was laid to rest this evening. Thousands of people attended his last rites at Zadibal.
The former Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and senior party leaders attended the last rites of Ansari at Zadibal. The last rites were also attended by several NC leaders.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah this morning visited Ansari’s residence and expressed solidarity with the bereaved family, conveyed his sympathy and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.
Omar also expressed solidarity with the devotees and followers of the late religious leader and conveyed his condolence to them on this hour of grief.
Governor, N N Vohra expressed grief over the demise of Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari. In the condolence message, he expressed sadness on Ansari’s demise. He prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family in this hour of sadness.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has deeply condoled the demise of Ansari. The PDP patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and president, Mehbooba Mufti termed the death of Ansari as a great loss to the society. “Moulvi Sahib was a versatile personality who will be always remembered for his impeccability and praise worthy services to the society,” they said.
The leaders said the deceased was not only a religious and spiritual leader of great repute but an outstanding political statesman as well. “With the demise of Moulvi Sahib the State has lost a seasoned politician, outstanding Islamic scholar, wonderful orator and an outspoken advocate of unity,” they said.
Recalling his long association with the deceased, Mufti said Ansari has been a lifelong friend and associate who will be missed always.
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, his wife and the party president, Mehbooba Mufti; Members of Parliament, Muzzafar Hussain Baig and Tariq Hameed Karra, other legislators and senior leaders of PDP rushed to his residence in the morning to share the grief of family and his followers.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Former Chief Minister of J&K, Ghulam Nabi Azad has condoled the sad demise of Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari.
A versatile orator and an outstanding religious scholar, Mr Azad said that Moulvi Iftikhar Ansari’s death, besides being a personal loss, is a great loss to the society and State. He further said that the deceased leader all along his political career served the people of the State with fervour and commitment, adding that his contributions will be remembered for a long time to come.
He was an embodiment of confidence and courage who steadfastly propagated the values and ideals which he believed in, notwithstanding the odds, Mr Azad Said.
Ruling National Conference (NC) condoled the demise of Ansari. In a condolence message, National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah has extended heartfelt condolences to the family and followers of Ansari and prayed for peace to the departed soul.
National Conference General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar also condoled the demise of Ansari and said that this was a great loss to the followers of the religious leader and had created a vacuum in the State that would take a long time to fill.

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