Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs & Tribal Affairs, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali has termed Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as a statesman of the Century and Ambassador of Peace.While paying rich tributes to Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on his 2nd death anniversary at a commemoration function here at Gandhi Nagar Jammu, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali said a leader is born, a politician is also born but a statesman is born in Centuries and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was a statesman whose demise has created void in the state’s political arena. He said the biggest tribute to Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is to carry forward his mission of peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue and friendship with neighbors.“On this occasion, I want to appeal India and Pakistan to come closer and strengthen friendship”, Zulfkar said adding that relation of India and Pakistan is directly affecting the atmosphere in Jammu & Kashmir especially along the borders and LoC. “Leaders of India and Pakistan must address the issues amicably so that the people of the state do not suffer anymore due to escalation of tension on borders and LoC”, he added.
Terming Mufti Sayeed as Ambassador of Peace, Zulfkar said that Mufti played a significant role not only on international level by creating an atmosphere in which India and Pakistan become friends, he also proved his mettle as first and only Muslim Home Minister of India. He reminded the people of the wanning of days of torture, frisking, harassments and mental frustration among youth and said that Mufti gave an atmosphere in which every citizen started living in peace with dignity.Mufti Sayeed gave a dignified life to the people of this state, he said.The Minister said it was visionary approach of Mufti Sayeed to raise voice for peace and friendship of India and Pakistan as he knew that relations between these two neighbors directly affect people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said Mufti invited then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Kashmir where he extended hands of friendship to Pakistan which was great breakthrough in the process of peace and stability in the sub-continent. He added that Mufti wanted borders irrelevant and it was why he raised voice for opening of routes like Poonch Rawalakote and Uri Muzaffarabad.
The Minister has said that Mufti’s decision of forming government with BJP was historic as the same was the respect to the mandate of the people of all the three regions of the state. He said that although there was huge difference with the policies and ideologies of PDP and BJP, still the government is functioning very well under the leadership of Mehbooba Mufti. He added that Mufti combined north and south pole only for a common agenda of development and peace for the state and Mufti was very much right to form this coalition government.A large of gathering from all over the Jammu province gathered to pay homage to late leader at Jammu. Other prominent who spoke on the occasion included Haji Anayat Ali, Chairman Legislative Council, Bhushan Lal Dogra Vice Chairman, Vijay Dogra Vice Chairperson, Chowdhary Qamar Hussain Member Assembly, Shah Mohammad Tantray Member Assembly, Surinder Chowdhary, MLC, Firdous Tak MLC, Ved Mahajan General Secretary, Mehboob Iqbal, Daman Bhasin, Asghar Ali, Trilok Singh Bajwa, Fulail Singh, Iqbal Qazmi, RK Bali, Faqir Chand Bhagat, Hussain Ali Wafa, Bharat Chowdhary and others.