SUHAIL KHAN
SRINAGAR, Nov 5: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly convened on Tuesday to honor the memories of prominent leaders who have passed away in recent years. In an emotional and reflective session, members from across the political spectrum paid tribute to these figures, acknowledging their contributions to the nation and their lasting impact on the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The session commenced with the Speaker leading a somber homage to the late leaders, setting a respectful tone for the proceedings. According to the Kashmir Despatch team covering the session, the Assembly Secretariat had issued a formal agenda listing leaders to be remembered, including former President of India Pranab Mukherjee, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Jagmohan Malhotra, and former Union Minister Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta.
CPI (M) leader and MLA Kulgam Yousuf Tarigami took the opportunity to pay homage to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, recalling the late Prime Minister’s famous diplomatic principle: “You can change your friends, but not your neighbors.” Tarigami reflected on Vajpayee’s dedication to fostering peaceful relations with neighboring countries, emphasizing that despite opposition, Vajpayee had pushed for peace and maintained the ceasefire. “Vajpayee’s approach laid a foundation of goodwill and respect,” Tarigami said, “one that we can still learn from today.”
Bashir A. Veeri of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) remembered Vajpayee’s compassionate stance on Kashmir, summarizing it in three words: insaniyat (humanity), jumhooriyat (democracy), and Kashmiriyat (the unique cultural identity of Kashmir). Veeri emphasized that these three values were at the core of Vajpayee’s vision for Kashmir, describing them as principles that ought to be safeguarded and honored in the present day. “Vajpayee’s vision was to uplift the people of Kashmir,” he remarked, adding that this humane approach had resonated deeply with the local populace.
Rafiq Naik, a legislator from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), underscored the importance of the Vajpayee Doctrine, suggesting it should serve as a foundational guide for addressing Kashmir’s complexities. He reiterated that Vajpayee’s legacy of peace and understanding offers a constructive path forward for the region.
Among those remembered, recent loss of BJP leader Devender Rana was especially poignant. Congress legislator Nizamuddin Bhat, in his tribute, reflected on Rana’s contributions, sharing personal memories of their time together in the Assembly and noting how his presence will be deeply missed.
Lawmakers from various parties echoed each other in their tributes, stressing that Vajpayee’s approach to Kashmir represents a historical model of diplomacy and restraint, highlighting that his vision could still provide a roadmap for unity and harmony.
To conclude the session, Assembly members observed a solemn two-minute silence, paying their final respects to the departed leaders. The silence in the chamber reflected a shared sense of loss and a unified respect for the memories of those who had shaped the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir and India at large.Tributes were also paid to former members of the Constituent Assembly, including Prof. Bhim Singh, Krishan Dev Sethi, former MLAs Abdul Aziz Parray, Muhammad Yasin Shah, Rachpal Singh, Peer Abdul Gani Shah, Choudhary Bashir Ahmad Naz, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Muhammad Shafi Khan, Abdul Gani Naseem, Abdul Wahid Shan, Ghulam Qadir Bhat (Bedar), Ghulam Rasool Bahar, Abdul Razak Wagay, Thakur Diwakar Singh, Rajesh Gupta, Som Nath, Prakash Sharma, Muhammad Maqbool Bhat, and Ghulam Rasool Sofi. The references also included former MLCs Choudhary Fateh Muhammad, Abdul Rehman Badana, Habibullah Bhat, Thakur Kashmira Singh, Yashpal Sharma, Raja Nasir Khan, Wali Muhammad Bhagwan, Haji Ali Muhammad Bhat, Abdul Aziz Wani, Chuni Lal Dhiman, Trilochan Singh Wazir, Aga Syed Jamal, Haji Muhammad Sultan, Gulzar Ahmad Khatana, Muhammad Aslam, and Mirza Muhammad Yaqoob.
