Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 7: Paying glowing tributes to Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah on the eve of his 37th death anniversary, National Conference on Saturday recalled the contribution of the towering leader of the sub-continent in strengthening the bonds of amity, brotherhood, secularism and unity.
“During most testing times of the history, he emerged tall at the strength of his commitment to secularism and democracy by outrightly rejecting the two-nation theory of Ali Mohammed Jinnah and reposing faith in the vibrant, all inclusive and democratic spirit of India thereby demolishing Jinnah’s edifice of religio-political structure,” senior National Conference leaders said in a joint statement issued from Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here this afternoon.
They also recalled the pioneering role of Sheikh Abdullah during the horrendous era of partition in keeping the flag of secularism aloft in the midst of the hostile winds. “He had unflinching faith in the democratic and secular ethos of the country”, the statement added.
“Sher-e-Kashmir lived as a torch-bearer of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist unity during most testing times of the history and this spirit is still in the hearts and minds of people and its resonance is equally felt in the mountains, valleys, deserts and planes of the state”, they said and pledged to strengthen and sustain the political philosophy of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.
The leaders described Sheikh Abdullah as an architect of revolutionary Land to Tiller Act which empowered the downtrodden and marginalized segments of farmers, adding this pioneering law became role model for the entire country to emulate. They also referred to the concept of Single Line Administration evolved by the late leader that ensured decentralization of powers to benefit the people at grass roots level.
“His exemplary focus on education ensured setting up of institutions of higher education and free education upto the secondary level. He also evinced extra-ordinary interest in the health of the people, which is discernible by the setting up of the state of art institutions of healthcare during his tenure, which were far ahead of the times in terms of infrastructure and diagnostic facilities, they added.
Besides Provincial President Devender Singh Rana, those who paid tributes to Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah in a joint message included Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Surjeet Singh Slathia, Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Shah Bukhari, Abdul Gani Malik, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, Rattan Lal Gupta, Th Kashmira Singh, Th Rachpal Singh, Sheikh Abdul Rehman, Javed Rana, Ajaz Jan, Vijay Bakaya, B. R Kundal, Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, Dr Kamal Arora, Jagjeevan Lal, Qazi Jalal Ud Din, Bushan Lal Bhat, Dr. Chaman Lal, Mohd Aslam Khan, Brij Mohan Sharma, Haji Mohd Hussain, Khalid Najeeb Suharwardhy, Bimla Luthra, Master Noor Hussain, S. Tarlochan Singh Wazir, Deepender Kour, Swaran Lata, S. Gurdeep Singh Sasan, Vijay Laxmi Dutta, Vipan Pal Sharma, Bashir Ahmed Wani, Jugal Mahajan, Ch. Haroon, Dr Kamal Arooa, S S Bunty, Pardeep Bali, Ch. Liaquat Ali, Anil Dhar, Satwant Kour Dogra and others.
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