Srinagar, Sep 8 — National Conference (NC) President and former J&K Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and senior party leaders paid floral tributes and offered ‘Fateha’ prayers at the mausoleum of legendary Kashmiri leader, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah on his 44th death anniversary on Tuesday.
Sheikh Abdullah was the first 'Prime Minister' of Independent J&K and responsible for the revolutionary land-to-tiller laws that empowered the downtrodden Kashmiri farmers and released them from the yoke of absentee landlordism.
Apart from the Abdullahs, the son and grandson of the late leader, NC leaders Abdul Rahim Rather, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, advisor to Chief Minister, Nasir Aslam Wani, several MLAs and others assembled at the Hazratbal mausoleum of late Sheikh to offer ‘Fateha’ prayers and pay floral tributes.
The mausoleum was gracefully decorated with party flags and flowers as the party remembered its founder. The mausoleum is located on the banks of the Dal Lake and late Sheikh’s wife, Begum Akbar Jahan, known as the ‘Madr-e-Meharban’ (Benevolent mother) is buried alongside her husband’s grave.
"Today, on 8 September, we observe the 44th death anniversary of Baba-e-Quom, Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, whose life was dedicated to the dignity, rights and aspirations of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. We remember his leadership, honour his legacy and pay tribute to a towering figure who continues to inspire generations," the NC said on X.
Despite its comfortable majority in the 90-member J&K Assembly, the ruling NC is today a pale shadow of the overwhelming popularity the party had during the lifetime of its founder Sheikh Abdullah.
When the Sheikh passed away on September 8, 1982, a weeping and wailing crowd of nearly one million Kashmiris joined his funeral procession.
The then President, Giani Zail Singh, and the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, flew in from New Delhi to pay tributes to late Sheikh.
Even 44 years after his death and over 35 years of the worst terrorist violence, Kashmir has not been able to produce a taller leader than the late Sheikh, both literally and figuratively.