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| History in making as birth anniversary of first PM of erstwhile JK state all set to be low key affair | | With leadership behind bars NC unable to celebrate founder’s birthday | |
Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, Dec 4: A history of sorts would be created on December 5 as it would be for the first time that birth anniversary of National Conference (NC) founder, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah would be observed without pomp and show in the state more so in Kashmir valley.
Sources told Early Times that since the top as well as middle rung leadership of NC is under arrest or house arrest, the birthday of the NC would pass off without any major function at the party level. Although, some of the functions are being held at the government level no such thing is expected at the party level especially in Kashmir valley.
Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was born on December 5, 1905 at Soura and he passed away on September 8, 1982 at an age of 77 years. Sheikh was the first prime minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir. He also served as the chief minister of Jammu & Kashmir and is considered to be one of the prominent politicians of Jammu & Kashmir.
“In the past the NC leaders whether they were in power or in opposition would visit the grave of Sheikh Abdullah at Naseem Bagh near Hazratbal and pay their respects to the party founder. However, this time around since most of the leaders are under arrest or house arrest, the birth celebrations of NC founder in Kashmir are likely to be a low key affair,” said sources.
It would be in place to mention here that not long ago the death anniversary of NC founder was observed as a holiday in Jammu & Kashmir. However, few years ago it was decided to observe holiday on birthday and not on the death anniversary of the former PM as well as CM of Jammu & Kashmir.
“There are chances that the holiday on account of birthday of Sheikh Abdullah would be cancelled and probably this would be for the last time that such a holiday would be observed in the union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Things in this regard would be clear as and when General Administration Department would draw the schedule for holidays for year 2020,” said sources.
Sources said that some of the functions may be held in the Jammu division of the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir adding that these too would be somewhat somber since the top leadership of party is under detention or house arrest. They said that Jammu based NC leaders would hold the ‘fort’ in absence of top leaders of the party.
“Since the birth anniversary of Sheikh Abdullah is also observed as SKIMS Day the function in this regard would be held at SKICC on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar. The function is going to be high profile one as Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir Girish Chandra Murmu would be the chief guest on the occasion,” said sources.
NC President, former chief minister and present Lok Sabha member from Srinagar, Dr. Farooq Abdullah continues to be under house arrest at his official residence at Gupkar while as his son and former chief minister Omar Abdullah is under arrest at Hari Niwas since August 5. Many other leaders of the party have either been arrested or under house arrest.
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