Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 5: Rich tributes were paid to former Chief Minister and founder of National Conference (NC) Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah on his 107th birth anniversary here today.
Large number of office bearers of NC, its senior leaders and workers gathered at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan here to remember the late leader.
Addressing the gathering Rattan Lal Gupta, provincial president NC said Sher-e-Kashmir was the leader of masses and under his command the J&K acceded to secular India as late leader has full faith in secularism.
He said Sheikh Abdullah worked shoulder to shoulder with national leaders like Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad during the freedom movement of India. He said the real tributes to Sheikh Abdullah will be to strengthen the party as per his will.
Minister of Commerce and Industries Surjit Singh Slathia while paying tributes to late leader said he was internationally known figure. He upheld the secular traditions of the State in 1947 turmoil by outright rejecting the two -nation theory of Mr Jinah and opted for secular India.
Vice Chairman Pahari Advisory Board, Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari in his address said that Government is committed to uphold the ethos of secularism at all cost. The NC is a premier political party in the State and has historical background, he added.
Vice Chairman Kissan Advisory Board and MLA, Rashpal Singh while paying tributes to the great leader said that NC has sacrificed large number of workers and leaders for the cause of the nation. While former Minister and MLC Ajay Kumar Sadhotra termed Sheikh Abdullah a visionary leader who took a great step to uplift the poor people of the State.
Bimla Luthra MLA who organised a rally of women workers from Vivekananda Chowk to Sher-e-Kahsmir Bhawan here said the need of the hour is to empower the women folk in the state, which was the dream of late leader.
Provincial president Women Wing NC, Laxmi Dutta also organised a rally on the occasion of birth anniversary of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah today. She while paying tributes to late leader said he was a great personality who fought for the cause of the people. She said the land to tiller act was a great contribution of Sheikh Abdullah for the poor and downtrodden people of the State.
Others who paid tributes to Sheikh Abdullah included provincial secretary NC, Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, Master Noor Hussian, Ram Paul, Ch Haroon, Haji Mohammad Hussian, S Peter, Jugal Mahajan, S S Bunty, STS Tony, Pardeep Bali, M Y Teng, Sham Mehra etc.
Earlier in the morning fruit and other items were distributed among the people of Vridh Ashram Ambphalla here by Rattan Lal Gupta and other senior leaders. Quran Khani was also performed in at S K Bhawan.
A meeting in connection with birth anniversary of Sheikh Abdullah was also organised at Nowshera by MLA and NC leader Radhay Sham Sharma. Paying tributes to him Mr Sharma described Sheikh Abdullah tallest leader who during his life time sincerely fought for socio-economic upliftment of the weaker sections of the society as well as for the cause of farmers. His landmark contribution was enactment of land to tiller act, he added.
NC Minority Cell also celebrated the birth anniversary of Sheikh Abdullah at Muthi today. On the occasion Ex MLC Bushan Lal Bhat, Minority Cell working president M K Yogi its other leaders Ashok Hangloo, M L Munshi and Jatin Bhat paid rich tributes to late leader.
Kashmiri Displaced United Council (KDUC) at a meeting here today recalled the services of late leader Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah to the people of State. Those who paid tributes to former Chief Minister and founder of NC included KUDC chairman Ashok Koul its convener Vinod Tickoo and general secretary Sunil Pandita.
Sher-e-Kashmir Cultural Welfare Society also celebrated the birth anniversary of late leader in its office premises here today.
Paying tributes to late leader Manohar Lal Bhagat, chairman of the society described Sheikh Abdullah a great visionary. Vijay Chikan general secretary of the society also threw light on life and sacrifices of Sheikh Abdullah.
Follow our WhatsApp channel