Srinagar, September 8 (KNS) : Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, today paid rich tributes to Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah on his 44th death anniversary.

The Minister offered prayers hatzratbal and remembered Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah as a visionary and far-sighted leader whose contribution to the political, social and economic transformation of Jammu and Kashmir occupies an important place in the region’s history.

Speaking on the occasion, Rana said that few leaders have commanded the kind of enduring popular faith and affection that Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah earned during his lifetime.

He described him as a fearless, uncompromising and deeply committed leader who remained devoted to the interests of his homeland and its people, inspiring generations to uphold the values of public service, dignity and social justice.

Rana said Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’s political journey represented a sustained struggle against systems of oppression, inequality and injustice.

His vision, he said, transcended narrow and sectional considerations and remained firmly anchored in the aspirations, dignity and welfare of the common people.

The Minister recalled Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’s historic movement against hereditary rule, describing it as a decisive turning point in the political history of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to Rana, the movement sought to replace autocratic governance with popular empowerment and greater political participation, laying the foundation for a more representative social and political order.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

He also highlighted Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’s far-reaching socio-economic reforms, saying that they challenged entrenched feudal structures and sought to dismantle longstanding systems of inequality.

These measures, Rana said, contributed significantly towards expanding social justice, strengthening the position of ordinary people and creating the conditions for broader and more inclusive political representation.

The Minister further underscored Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’s contribution to institution-building in Jammu and Kashmir.

He said that his legacy extended beyond electoral and political leadership, encompassing the establishment and strengthening of institutions and public systems that continued to shape the region’s developmental and administrative landscape over the decades.

“Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was not merely a political leader; he was a transformative figure whose vision, struggles and reforms left a lasting imprint on the social and political consciousness of Jammu and Kashmir,” Rana said.

Rana observed that Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’s legacy continues to remain deeply woven into the political, social and historical fabric of Jammu and Kashmir. His emphasis on the dignity and empowerment of the people, he said, continues to hold relevance and inspire successive generations.(KNS)