Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 8: Paying tributes to Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah on his 35th death anniversary, here today. National Conference pledged to offer every sacrifice for upholding and preserving Article 35A, describing it as a constitutional guarantee to the unique identity and legitimate rights of people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, irrespective of religion or caste.
While leading the party functionaries and workers in paying tributes at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here, NC Provincial President Devender Singh Rana said that defending, upholding and preserving this constitutional proviso will be a befitting tribute to Sher-e-Kashmir.
Rana said that any attempt of fiddling with Article 35A will harm Jammu, especially Dogras– Mahajans, Brahmins, Rajputs, Khatris, Dogra Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Scheduled Caste and other segments of the society-more than the other two regions. He said the Dogras are becoming more conscious with regard to their rights and the likely subjugation they might suffer in the event of State subject laws, brought in by Maharaja Hari Singh to retain peculiar identity and heritage of the Duggarland, are dispensed with.
“Dogras are genuinely concerned about the machinations being perpetrated to dispense with Article 35A, which may lead to non-state subjects making their way to Jammu because of its proximity to other parts of the country and conduciveness in terms of security scenario, culture, topography and terrain”, he said, adding that the main brunt will have to be faced by youth whose right to jobs in the Government sector will be in jeopardy.
Saying that protecting Article 35A is saving the proud Dogra heritage and culture, Rana vowed that NC will take its ongoing crusade in this regard to logical conclusion. He called for identifying and deporting all the fake state subject holders, who were usurping the rights of Dogras in the Duggerland.
Paying tributes to Sher-e-Kashmir, the Provincial President described him a `Yughpurash’ and a contemporary of Mahatma Gandhi who tirelessly worked for promoting the idea of Jammu and Kashmir by strengthening the bonds of amity and brotherhood during most testing times when the sub-continent was undergoing a worst communal holocaust. “Preserving idea of Jammu and Kashmir is like preserving the idea of India”, he said and hoped that emancipated people of the country and the State will foil all attempts of divide and communal polarization.
Paying homage to Baba-e-Quom, former minister and senior NC leader Ajay Kumar Sadhotra lauded his vision of discarding two-nation theory and opting for a secular India, where equal opportunities are available to all, irrespective of religion, region, caste, creed or colour.
Sadhotra recalled the immense contribution of Sheikh Sahib, like revolutionary Land Reforms Act, Single Line Administration, free education and said this made the State unique in the entire country.
Former minister Surjeet Singh Slathia also spoke on the occasion. Those who paid tributes to Sheikh Abdullah, included Th Kashmira Singh, Rattan Lal Gupta, Sheikh Abdul Rehman, Dr Kamal Arora, Vijay Bakaya, Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, Babu Rampal, Vijay Laxmi Dutta, Bimla Luthra, Usman Slaria, Th Rachpal Singh, Bushan Lal Bhat, Brij Mohan Sharma, Master Noor Hussain, Satpal Lakhotra, Deepender Kour and others.
In Poonch, cadre of NC remembered Sheikh Abdullah on his death anniversary by organizing a programme, which wad led by Provincial President of Youth NC, Ajaz Jan alongwith other leaders of district body of the party.
All the party workers and leaders remembered Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and termed him one of the stalwart leader of State who will always be remembered in the history of State.
Addressing this gathering, Ajaz Jan said that every worker and leader of party stands firm against any move over Article 35A or other aspects of special status of State and forces trying to do so were playing with fire as every citizen of State is against such move.
National Conference district committee Kargil today paid rich tributes to Sher-e-Kashmir on his death anniversary at party head office Inqilab Manzil. On this occasion, senior party leader and former minister Qamar Ali Akhoon, district president Haji Mohammad Hanifa Jan, former Minister Feroz Ahmad Khan, Youth Wing president Abass Ali Khan, officer bearer of district committee Kargil and number of party workers were present.
At Udhampur, a programe was organized by the district unit of NC for commemorating the death anniversary of Sheikh Mohd Abdullah. The programme was organized under the leadership of district president Sunil Verma, who recalled services of the great leader. He appeals all the NC workers to strengthen the National Conference as a true tribute to Sheikh Mohd Abdullah.
National Conference Kishtwar remembered Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah by organizing a meeting of party workers, here today, under the chairmanship of NC senior vice president Qazi Jalal-u-Din to pay tribute to the late leader.
Addressing the gathering, Qazi Jalal-u-Din termed Sheikh Abdullah as a leader of masses, under whose command the J&K accede to secular India as late leader had full faith in secularism. He said the real tribute to Sheikh Abdullah will be to strengthen the party at grass route level in accordance to the precedence set by the late leader.
Former MoS Home & MLC Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, while paying tribute to late leader, said that NC was committed to uphold the ethos of secularism in the State at all cost.
Others who paid tributes to Sheikh Abdullah, included Farooq Ahmed Dev, Imtiyaz Ahmad Zargar, Shabir Ahmed Kamal, Janki Nath , Doulat Ram, Asif Qazi, Farooq Butt, Rajinder Sen, Salam Din and Khalid Mir.
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