Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 17: Rich tributes were paid today to veteran Jammu and Kashmir leader, former Minister and ex-MP Pandit Girdhari Lal Dogra on his 106th birth anniversary.
A large number of people including relatives and family friends paid floral homage at the statue of the late leader at Dogra Chowk. Paying floral tributes to her father, Nidhi Sharma described Pt Girdhari Lal Dogra as leader of the masses, saying his political acumen and down to earth approach will continue to inspire generations and motivate them to serve the people with a sense of commitment.
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Paying tributes to the veteran leader, provincial president of National Conference, Devender Singh Rana described him as a politician par excellence, saying Dogra Sahib will always be remembered for his qualities of head and heart. Rana said Dogra Sahib had created a niche for himself as he literally remained at the beck and call of his people, especially at the time of need.
This reflected his humane facet of ‘service without self’, especially as he kept himself available to the people particularly the under-privileged, he said, adding that Dogra Sahib was an epitome of simplicity whose role in socio-economic development remained guiding force for the younger generation of politicians with singular motto of serving the people.
The prominent speakers recalled the contribution of Dogra towards welfare and development of Jammu and Kashmir in his various capacities including as a Minister, saying he had endeared himself across the political spectrum. They described him as an able administrator who left indelible mark of public service and referred to the unflinching commitment of Dogra Sahib to democratic values and secular ethos and said he was second to none on the administrative front. His contribution of economic edifice of Jammu and Kashmir as finance minister is remembered even now, they said.
Among others who paid tributes to Pandit Girdhari Lal Dogra included Om Parkash Dogra, Manish Dogra, Surinder Dogra, Rattan Dogra, Rohit Dogra, Dharamveer Singh Jamwal, Suresh Sharma and others.
Meanwhile, the entire rank and file of the Congress Party paid tributes to Pt Girdhari Lal Dogra at PCC headquarters in Jammu. They observed two minutes of silence as a mark of respect to the veteran Congress leader.
Remembering the great leader who served the Party and the erstwhile state of J&K in different capacities during his long and unblemished public life, JKPCC said that Dogra was a ‘Messiah’ of poor and downtrodden who always behaved in the secular values and worked for strengthening the bonds of unity and brotherhood amongst communities, religion and regions.