Ruling People’s Democratic Party Satruday observed the 1st death anniversary of its founder and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mufti Muhammad Sayeed by paying floral tributes at his mausoleum in South Kashmir’s Bijbehara town while party organized a grand function at Indoor Stadium Srinagar that was attended by thousands of party workers from North, Central and South Kashmir.Earlier Mehbooba Mufti along with some of her party and family members visited Sayeed’s mausoleum in Bijbehara and offered special prayers.Mehbooba Mufti addressed a function at Indoor Stadium Srinagar where she impressed upon party workers to work towards making Mufti’s dream of turning Kashmir a dream state and a destination of peace.An official spokesperson said that from the early morning people in large numbers, despite inclement weather, were seen arriving at the mausoleum and offering fateha to their beloved leader.
Ministers, MPs, legislators, leaders and workers of PDP and other political parties besides family members of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and people in large numbers were present on the occasion.To mark the commemoration, a number of functions were slated for the day at Srinagar, Jammu and other district headquarters.Rich tributes were paid to former Chief Minister and PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on his firth death anniversary at a commemoration function organized at Zorawar Singh Auditorium of Jammu University here.Member Parliament (MP) and former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig was the Chief Guest in the function that was also attended by Chairman Legislative Council Haji Inayat Ali, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Choudhary Zulfkar Ali, Chairperson State Commission for Women, Nayeema Ahmad Mehjoor, Legislators, Shah Mohammad Tantray, Choudhary Qamar Hussain, Anjum Fazili, Vikramaditya Singh, Firdous Tak, and Yashpal Sharma and PDP General Secretary, Mehboob Iqbal.
Recalling the contribution of late leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, MP Muzaffar Hussain Baig said Mufti Sayeed was gifted with a charismatic aura and it was with this unique attribute that whosoever, used to meet the great leader felt an immediate connection with him. “Even if you had a brief interaction with him (Mufti Sayeed), he made you feel like you are his son, or his daughter or his sister or brother,” Baig said.
Baig said the presence of huge gathering in the Zorawar Singh auditorium bears witness to the affection and love people have for the late leader.He said the best way to pay tributes and carry forward the legacy of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is to implement his vision for peace, dignity, development and prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir in letter and spirit.Stressing the need for creating conducive political atmosphere for peace and stability in Jammu and Kashmir, Baig said it is imperative that Pakistan and India revive and resume the peace and reconciliation process. He said turmoil in Kashmir affected the development initiatives and the unrest put on hold the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s grand plans, and dreams of taking the State to a next level of prosperity. He said it is imperative that peace and harmony is maintained across the State.Stressing the need for giving due respect to the people and the party cadres, Baig said that late Mufti Sahab used to refer to the workers as the “pupil of his eye,” and the best way to pay tribute to his departed soul is by giving them the same respect the departed leader used to give.Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Choudhary Zulfkar Ali said Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was a man with a concord in his words and actions.
Describing late Sayeed as an astute and visionary leader, Zulfkar said it was his political vision with which he convinced the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to hold talks with Pakistan in the larger interest of peace and stability of the region. The Minister said that by working hand in glove with Mr. Vajpayee, Mufti sahib ensured that peace prevails in State and the region, and moves towards development and economic prosperity.The Minister said although the void created by the demise of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is too large to be filled, however, he expressed his optimism that Jammu and Kashmir would witness a new and refreshing era by working on the path shown by the late leader under the guidance of Chief Minister, Ms Mehbooba Mufti.Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Legislative Council Haji Anayat Ali expressed gratitude to late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for creating and empowering Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil in 2002.
Chairperson, State Commission for Women, Nayeema Mehjoor on the occasion, said that greatest tribute to Mufti Muhammad Sayeed would be to take a pledge to work hard to strengthen the legacy that Mufti Sahib started. She said it should be everybody’s endeavor to work hard to bring peace, dignity, and fulfillment of promises made to people that Mufti Syed wanted us to do.Legislators Qamar Choudhary, Anjum Fazili, Surinder Choudhary, Vikramaditya Singh and Firdous Tak also addressed the gathering.PDP Women Wing President Vijaya Dogra, Kissan Cell Chairman Sat Pal Sigh, senior party leaders Sardar Rangil Singh, Daman Basin, Shanti Devi and others PDP leaders, and workers attended the function.