As NC marks 120th birth anniversary of Sheikh Abdullah, no statement from J&K Lieutenant Governor

The National Conference (NC) observed the 120th birth anniversary of party founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, the former Chief Minister of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday (December 5, 2025), pledging to take forward his mission of unity and social justice.

The Lieutenant Governor of the current Union Territory of J&K, Manoj Sinha, however, refrained from issuing any statement on the occasion. Mr. Sinha, whose office would customarily issue statements on the anniversaries of major political figures, has already scrapped Abdullah’s birth anniversary as a holiday on the official calendar of J&K. The elected J&K Government’s proposal to include the anniversary in the holiday list was turned down by the Raj Bhavan last year.

Meanwhile, the top leadership of the National Conference, including its president Farooq Abdullah and vice president Omar Abdullah — the late Sheikh Abdullah’s son and grandson, respectively — visited his grave to pay floral tributes. Mr. Omar Abdullah emphasised that the party’s founder “lives in people’s hearts irrespective of the fact whether there is an official holiday or not”.

‘Committed to his vision’

“Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah gave voice to the voiceless, land to the tillers, and dignity to those who had long been denied their rightful place in society. His struggle was rooted in courage and compassion, and his dream was to build a just, inclusive, and empowered Jammu & Kashmir where every citizen could stand tall with pride,” Mr. Omar Abdullah said.

The J&K Chief Minister said the party still “draws strength from his ideals and remains committed to carrying forward his vision of progress, unity and social justice”. He added: “The Sher-e-Kashmir’s legacy is not just a chapter of history, it continues to breathe through the aspirations and achievements of our people.”

Speaking at the graveyard, Dr. Farooq Abdullah cautioned the party against “internal disputes”, saying, “Not only give statements, there is a need to strengthen the party. Everyone is making statements, but no one is identifying the issue. Just make the party stronger.”

‘Challenged oppression’

NC MP Aga Syed Ruhullah, who has been critical of the State Government’s performance, also paid tribute to the party founder. “Sheikh Abdullah’s political journey symbolised courage, resilience, and an unshakable commitment to public welfare. Sheikh Sahib spent his entire life challenging oppression and confronting systems that exploited common people. His leadership embodied the collective aspirations and dignity of the people of J&K,” Mr. Ruhullah said.

The NC MP Ruhullah said it was the responsibility of the present generation to uphold the values that Sheikh Abdullah stood for and to continue the mission he and his colleagues devoted their lives to. “The day should inspire a renewed commitment to unity, justice, and democratic rights, ensuring that the ideals of Baba-e-Qoum remain guiding principles for the future,” Mr. Ruhullah added.