SRINAGAR, NOVEMBER 05: On the second day of ongoing Assembly Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah paid rich tributes to a number of distinguished former leaders, including former President of India Pranab Mukherjee, former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, and various members of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and Council.
\nIn his obituary address, the Chief Minister reflected on each leader\u2019s legacy and contributions to India and the region.
\nWhile delivering his tribute to former President Pranab Mukherjee, the Chief Minister, who is also Leader of the House, lauded Mukherjee\u2019s dedication and principles throughout his political career.
\n\u201cHis life is a great lesson, and we should all learn from it,\u201d Omar Abdullah said.
\n\u201cFrom his humble beginnings as a Deputy Minister to becoming the President of India, he shouldered immense responsibilities with integrity and hard work. Pranab Mukherjee had no godfather and no shortcuts; he demonstrated his capability at every level. As President, he kept Rashtrapati Bhawan above politics, using it only to serve the country\u2019s betterment,\u201d he said in his obituary reference speech.
\nIn his tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Abdullah shared personal insights from his time working alongside him as a Minister of State.
\n\u201cI had the privilege of working closely with Vajpayee ji for three years. His dedication to stabilizing Jammu and Kashmir was unwavering,\u201d Omar Abdullah noted.
\n\u201cWhenever we remember Vajpayee ji in the context of Jammu and Kashmir, it\u2019s clear he always worked tirelessly to improve the situation here. Despite the challenges of violence, tension, and the complex relationship between India and Pakistan, he made sincere efforts to foster peace,\u201d he maintained.
\nThe chief minister recollected the famous cross border bus service between India and Pakistan and said the former Indian premier was the first leader to take the bold step of visiting Lahore by bus, initiating the Delhi-Lahore Bus Service. \u201cDuring that trip, he even visited Minar-e-Pakistan, a challenging gesture from any Indian leader. At the border, he famously stated, \u2018Friends can change, but not neighbours.\u2019 I doubt that in today\u2019s climate, anyone would say such a thing,\u201d Omar recalled.
\nThe Chief Minister praised Vajpayee\u2019s initiatives aimed at bridging the gap between Kashmir and the rest of India, citing his well-known commitment to \u201cInsaniyat, Jamhooriyat and Kashmiryat\u201d (humanity, democracy, and the Kashmiri identity).
\n\u201cWhenever Jammu and Kashmir faced difficulties, he consistently advocated for dialogue as the path to peace. Despite facing significant obstacles, he extended a hand of friendship. When he spoke about Jammu and Kashmir, he emphasized \u2018Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat, and Kashmiriyat\u2019\u2014humanity, democracy, as the essence of Kashmir,\u201d he said about Vajpayee\u2019s tenure as PM.
\nOmar said that Vajpayee had believed that people on both sides of the divided Jammu and Kashmir should meet, and he opened roads to facilitate that connection.
\n\u201cSadly, those roads have since been closed, and it seems today that there\u2019s an effort to widen the gap rather than bridge it,\u201d he added.
\nThe chief minister said that if we had followed the path outlined by Vajpayee ji, we might not have been in the difficult situation we face today. \u201cHe is gone, and with him, we seem to have lost our direction,\u201d he said.
\nThe Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reflected on the autonomy resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, which was subsequently returned by the central government.
\nHe noted that while the resolution was initially rejected, former Prime Minister Vajpayee later acknowledged that the decision may have been made hastily.
\nIn response, Omar said, Vajpayee appointed Late Arun Jaitley as the minister to initiate dialogue with Kashmir, signaling a willingness to engage on the matter.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s true that the Autonomy Resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was sent back by his government. However, he later felt it was done in haste, which is why he appointed a cabinet minister to initiate dialogue on the matter. At that time, the late Arun Jaitley, who was the Law Minister, was tasked with starting discussions on the resolution,\u201d Omar said and added that with \u201cVajpayee ji\u2019s intentions for Jammu and Kashmir, we had no contradictions\u2014his commitment to peace and dialogue was unquestionable.\u201d
\nOmar also remembered former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee as a figure of great integrity. \u201cChatterjee ji was a politician who lived by his principles, a rarity in today\u2019s politics. His legacy of steadfast values and commitment to the people is something we should all aim to emulate.\u201d
\nIn a heartfelt remembrance of Devender Singh Rana, the sitting MLA of Nagrota, Abdullah reflected on their two-decade association. \u201cI spent considerable time with him; he was first my media advisor in 2002 and later an advisor during my tenure as Chief Minister.
\nFrom working at a Maruti workshop to building a successful automobile business empire, he exemplified the power of hard work and ambition. He took on party responsibilities with dedication and excellence.\u201d
\nExpressing personal regret, he added, \u201cI didn\u2019t know he was so unwell. Had I known, I would have made efforts to reconcile our differences. Now, his absence leaves a lasting sorrow.\u201d
\nThe Chief Minister also paid respects to the broader group of 57 leaders being remembered in the assembly, many of whom he had known personally or professionally.
\n\u201cAmong these departed, I have known 45 of them, either directly or indirectly. Each one has made invaluable contributions to Jammu and Kashmir. Their service is something we should learn from and be inspired by.\u201d
\nWhile concluding, the CM emphasized the importance of honouring these leaders by carrying forward the values they stood for, drawing lessons from their dedication, principles, and service to Jammu and Kashmir and to India as a whole.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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