Sher-e-Kashmir was man of iron-determination: NC

Srinagar, Sep 07: National Conference (NC) rank and file today paid glowing tributes to Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah on his 42nd death anniversary and termed him a man of iron-determination, a press release said.

His death anniversary will be observed tomorrow. “A significant function will be held at his Mazar in Naseem Bagh, Hazratbal. In the morning, Quran Khawani, floral tributes, and Fatiha Khawani will be offered. The President Dr Farooq Abdullah and Vice President Omar Abdullah will lead the party functionaries in offering Fatiha and floral tributes, “ the press release said..

Additionally observances will be held at Sher-i-Kashmir Bhawan Jammu, and other district headquarters across J&K, and Ladakh.

While paying rich tributes to Sheikh Moammad Abdullah party rank and file called him a father figure and political colossus, who helped change Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh from a feudal and colonial society to a free, democratic and secular one.

“An inspiring political stalwart, the functionaries said that throughout his political career, Sher-e-Kashmir symbolised the aspirations of the Kashmiri people as no single individual could have even dreamt of doing. Although rooted in Kashmir, he had attained a national standing with his name becoming synonymous in the minds of countrymen with the socialism, humanism, pluralism, and democracy,” they said.

The NC leaders added that his political direction to the state in the shape of Naya Kashmir manifesto had an unmistakably socialistic stamp that guaranteed freedom of press, freedom of assembly and meetings. “The vision of Late Abdullah, the functionaries held espoused to provide a reasonable standard of living for all people in the state irrespective of their caste, creed, religion and region. The basic agricultural and economic plan would be abolition of landlordism, land to tiller and people’s control over the resources of the state,”they said.

The NC leaders stated that the the spirit of secularism and tolerance possessed by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was the cumulative effect of the environment which generation after generation has fine-tuned the psyche of Kashmiris “Sheikh sahib was not any different, he also exhibited the spirit of tolerance, mutual respect and camaraderie towards all sects and creeds. A mass movement organiser, Abdullah’s struggle was never aimed to alleviate the suffering of particular followers of a faith,” they said.