SRINAGAR, JANUARY 08: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti has said the biggest contribution of late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to the polity of the State was to develop an alternative narrative on and in Jammu & Kashmir so that the voices of dissent are heard and respected.
Addressing a gathering on the occasion of release of special English and Urdu numbers of Sheeraza on the vision and contribution of late Mufti Sayeed by the J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages (JKAACL) here today, the Chief Minister said the late leader worked tirelessly so that the real democracy takes roots in the State and people are genuinely heard. She said late Mufti Sayeed wanted the stereotypes about Jammu & Kashmir to be changed so that the State evolves not as a flashpoint of conflict but as a point of mutual amity and friendship between India and Pakistan.
The special numbers of Sheeraza were released by Governor, N N Vohra, who is also the Patron of the Academy.
Mehbooba Mufti said public service was paramount to the late leader in his life and he even went against the tide at many a times to get the people of the State heard. She said the late leader would often say that the ideas cannot be caged but contested with more ideas and arguments to drive home the point. “He wanted the minds to be changed in the country so that the people of the State are taken out of their situational misfortunes’’, she said.
The Chief Minister said fulfilling the vision of late Mufti Sayeed to make Jammu & Kashmir an island of peace, cooperation and mutual friendship would be the fundamental duty of her Government so that the State emerges as a best model of governance and political reconciliation. That, she said, would be the biggest tribute to him.
Minister for Finance & Culture, Dr Haseeb A Drabu; Minister for Social Welfare, Sajjad Ghani Lone; Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar; Member Parliament and former Deputy Chief Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Baig and Vice Chancellor, Central University of Kashmir, Prof Mehraj ud Din also addressed the function and shared their experiences with the late leader.
Jnanpith Award winner, Prof Rehman Rahi; Minister for Youth Services & Sports, Syed Imran Raza Ansari; legislators, Vice Chancellors of different universities; family members of late Mufti Sayeed; writers, academicians, and litterateurs were present on the occasion.
Earlier, Secretary of the Academy, Dr. Aziz Hajni gave a brief resume of the contents of the special numbers and thanked all those who helped his team in compiling the same.
The special numbers carry articles and write ups by various writers touching upon several aspects of life and contribution of late Mufti Sayeed to the social and political sphere of the State.
On the sidelines of the function, a photo exhibition on the political journey of the late leader was also held by the Academy. Rare and exclusive photographs of the late Chief Minister were put on display depicting the multi-dimensional persona of the late leader and his political career.
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