Omar defends Sheikh’s legacy, dismisses holiday debate

Srinagar, Jan 2: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday said that the legacy of his grandfather and National Conference (NC) founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah cannot be erased.

“The place (SKICC) where we are sitting was visualised by my grandfather. This place his legacy. His great legacy does not depend on a holiday on December 5. His reform of ‘land to the tiller’ will remain alive in the hearts of farmers. When they will till their land, they will remember him,” CM Omar said.

He took a dig at the move of the Raj Bhawan to not restore the public holiday on the birth anniversary of Sheikh Abdullah on December 5 and July 13 to mark the martyrdom anniversary of martyrs of 1931 who laid their lives against the Dogra rule.

“Sacrifice of July 13 Martyrs can’t be weighed by a holiday,” the CM said.

He said that his grandfather made reforms in education.

“Students who received free education remember his legacy. Holidays on these occasions have an emotional attachment with people and we want to restore them,” he said.