Speaker, Members pay rich tributes to former Governor, Legislators

SRINAGAR, JUNE 17: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today paid rich tributes to the former J&K Governor, parliamentarian and legislators, who passed away during recent months. Speaker, Kavinder Gupta moved the Obituary Reference in the House.

            While paying homage to former Governor, Girish Chander Saxena, the Speaker said that he contributed tremendously in bringing normalcy in the State. When he took over as Governor of Jammu and Kashmir in 1990, the militancy was at peak in Kashmir Valley, and he played crucial role in tackling the situation, he said. During his first stint he remained Governor of the State from 1990 and 1993. Mr. Saxena was again brought to the State in the year 1998 as Governor. The main areas of his specialization were the International Affairs, National Security and Intelligence. He was awarded with the civilian honor of “Padma Bushan” in acknowledgement of services he rendered for the cause of nation in 2005.

The Speaker said that late Mr Saxena will always be remembered as an able administrator, who handled the extreme situations patiently and always had a humane approach to every problem.

Recalling the rich contribution of late Ali Mohammad Naik for the development of the State, the Speaker said that till his last breath he served to the people of the State in general and his constituency in particular. Mr. Naik was first time elected to J&K Legislative Assembly from Tral Constituency as an independent candidate in 1967 and again re-elected as such in the year 1972. He was the first opposition member unanimously elected as Deputy Speaker in August 1972. He later joined Congress, but left it soon to contest 1977 general election as an independent candidate. He was re-elected to Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in 1983 and was inducted in Council of Ministers headed by Mr. G.M. Shah on 2^nd of July, 1984, as Education Minister. Late Mr. Ali Mohammed Naik re-joined National Conference post 1990 and was again elected from Tral Constituency in Oct, 1996 on the Party Ticket. He was  unanimously elected Speaker J&K Legislative Assembly on 18^th of October,1996, but resigned as Speaker on 16^th of June 1998 and was subsequently inducted into the Council of Ministers headed by Dr. Farooq Abdullah as Revenue Minister. The late leader also contested the Lok-Sabha election from Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency on NC ticket in the year 1999 and after winning the Lok-Sabha seat he resigned from the Council of Ministers.

For his meritorious services, he was conferred with the Indira Gandhi Priyadarshani Award in the year 1998 and the State Award for life time achievement in the year 2007. The selfless services rendered by the late leader for the betterment and the welfare of the people of the State will be remembered by the generations to come, said the Speaker.

The Speaker described late Smt. Shanti Devi as leader of poor masses and women folk, who raised their issues in the Assembly vociferously. The services rendered by her for the welfare of the socially downtrodden will always be remembered. She was a known  social and political activist who keenly desired to work for upliftment of women  folk, depressed and neglected class of the society and has contributed a lot for the rehabilitation of the destitute orphans, widows and physically disabled persons of the society . She has also served as member of Social Advisory board and one of the Directors on Board of Directors of Super Bazar, Jammu. She was first time nominated as Member J&K Legislative Assembly in the year 2002.

Paying glowing tributes to Syed Nizam-ud-Din Shah, the Speaker said that he was an able politician and a known literary figure of his times. He was elected Member J&K Legislative Assembly in the year 1962 as a National Conference Candidate and also held the post of Deputy Leader National Conference Legislature Party. Besides holding important political posts, he also worked as Member of Debt Cancellation Board, Kulgam in 1951-52, Secretary, Anjuman-e-Bazam-e-Adab, Ananatnag, Member, Students Union Muslim University, Aligarh. He was elected Member, Rajya Sabha in April 1974. He was also the editor, printer and publisher of Nawa-i-Kashmir, the official organ of the National Conference.

  The services rendered by the late leader for the upliftment and welfare of the people in general and his constituency in particular will always be remembered by the future generations, said the Speaker.

Remembering the great contribution of Late Sardar Rangil Singh in the society, the Speaker maintained that he was one amongst the towering leaders of the State known for his political wisdom and far sightedness, who dedicated his whole life for the cause of the people. The selfless services rendered by the late leader in political, social, judicial and Sports fields for the wellbeing and development of the people of the State irrespective of their cast creed and colour  will always be remembered by the people of the State.

The late leader was a highly qualified of his time; he joined State judicial services in the year 1955 and worked in the capacity of Munsiff Magistrate, Special Munsiff Magistrate, Sub-Registrar from 1962 -1966 both at Srinagar and Jammu. After resigning from judiciary, he joined National Conference and held various important positions in the Organization. He later joined Indian National Congress after he resigned from the National Conference in the year 1969. He was elected as Member Legislative Assembly from R.S.Pura Constituency twice in the year 1972 and 1987 and was also elected as such from Jammu West Constituency in the year 1984 on Congress ticket.  He was inducted into the Cabinet and assigned the portfolios of Revenue, Education, Law and Health & Medical Education.

The late leader joined PDP at the time of its inception in 1999 and was presently the Senior Vice President of the party.  Apart from serving the Judiciary in different capacities and holding important political positions, late S. Rangil Singh was also President of the  J&K Olympic Association, Transport Operators Union, Association of Displaced Persons of 1947 and organized a State wide movement for their permanent rehabilitation  and succeeded in having proprietary rights conferred upon them. Besides, he  was  also the Member, J&K Sikh Gurdwara Prabhandak Board,  nominated Member of District Adhoc Committee Jammu and Member General Council of the Committee of Arts and Languages and Regional Development Board.

While paying rich tributes to late Rishi Kumar Koushal, the Speaker said that he was one of the towering personalities of Jammu, who fought for the cause of his people throughout his life. Prior to his political career, he served the RSS for about 8 years and held prestigious positions in the organization. He was  General Secretary of the organization from  1958 to 1967, Vice-President Pradesh Jan Sangh in 1967-69, Pradesh Secretary, Jan Sangh from 1969-72 and Secretary and Whip of the Jan Sangh Legislature Group 1962-67. Besides, he was the President Beopar Mandal Reasi in 1951-53, elected Chairman T.A.C Reasi from 1954-61. He was closely associated with provincial and local Sanatan Dharam Sabha activities and was a staunch supporter of “Bhartiyata” preached by Swami Vivekananda and Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukerjee. He was also imprisoned six times for two and half years in connection with the Praja Parishad and Jan Sangh movement in the State.

Late Rishi Kumar Koushal was first time elected to the Legislative Assembly in the year 1962 and re-elected consecutively as such in 1972 and 1977 from Reasi Constituency as a BJP Candidate. The veteran leader had a distinguished political career and was known as the true leader of masses. He not only worked for his Constituency but was known for extending his helping hand besides, using  his good offices for the redressal of grievances faced by  common man. He always adopted human approach rather than political considerations while working for the people. He also worked in rehabilitating and providing relief to the up-rooted persons of Rajouri and Reasi Tehsils. The late leader led the agitation to restore the District status of Reasi in nineties and vowed that he will not shave his beard till the fulfillment of the demand.  The services rendered by the late leader for the cause of his Constituency in particular and State in general will always be remembered by the generation to come, said the Speaker.

Mr. Mohammad Shafi, Mr. G.M. Saroori, Mr. M.Y. Tarigami, Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, Mr. Sat Paul Sharma, Mr. Bashir Ahmed Dar, Er. Abdul Rashid Sheikh also paid rich tributes to the late leaders and recalled their valuable contribution to the society.

Later, the House adopted the Obituary Reference and observed 2-minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed souls.