SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Thursday paid glowing tributes to the party founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah on his 41st death anniversary.
In a statement issued to the press, National Conference called Sheikh Abdullah 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 state. “He was an inspiring political stalwart throughout his political career. Sher-e-Kashmir symbolized the aspirations of the Kashmiri people as no single individual could have even dreamt of doing.”
The statement read that, Sheikh Abdullah despite being rooted in Kashmir, had attained a national standing with his name becoming synonymous in the minds of countrymen with socialism, humanism, pluralism, and democracy.
“Sheikh Abdullah’s vision of Naya Kashmir manifesto guaranteed freedom of press, freedom of assembly and meetings. The vision of Late Abdullah, held espoused to provide a reasonable standard of living for all people in the state irrespective of their caste, creed, religion and region,” statement reads.
Sheikh Abdullah exhibited the spirit of tolerance, mutual respect and camaraderie towards all sects and creeds. Abdullah’s struggle was never aimed to alleviate the suffering of particular followers of a faith, it said
“He worked tirelessly, suffered incarcerations throughout for the total redemption of the people in Jammu and Kashmir from abject poverty. He gave a new lease of life to the fear paralyzed people of all the regions of J&K. The first cabinet he headed was insightful of his secular temperament. People like GL Dogra, Sardar Budh Singh, Kushak Bakula and DP Dhar were given important portfolios in the cabinet he headed,” read the press release.
