Srinagar: Sajad Gani Lone, the first separatist leader-turned-mainstream politician and son of separatist leader Abdul Gani Lone, on Saturday said that his father was killed for saying what he believed in. In a series of tweets, the Chairman of People’s Conference said, “Every year as 21st May approaches I start trembling. Those painful moments/memories— of a family receiving the Bullet ridden body of their loved one. Those moments of helplessness follow you all your life. “Every time a person is killed in our valley, I can visualise what must be happening at his or her home. The teary eyed wails of the loved ones, the anguish—- it is all so same. “My father was killed for saying what he believed in. Those who killed him were terrorists and will Inshallah rot in hell. As will all those terrorists who kill unarmed innocent civilians. “For my father and for all those who have laid down their lives in this conflict All I pray for is peace. May no bullet ridden dead bodies be delivered to families. May this madness end. May sanity prevail,” he added. Kashmiri mainstream leaders also paid rich tributes to late Molvi Mohammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone on their death anniversaries. Molvi Mohammad Farooq, father of Mirwaiz Umar, was killed by gunmen after they barged into his Nigeen residence on May 21 in 1990. Abdul Lone, the moderate separatist leader, was killed on May 21 in 2002, by gunmen at a rally to mark the death anniversary of Maulvi Farooq at Eidgah ground. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) paid glowing tributes to Farooq and Lone, describing them as the torchbearers of the state’s struggle for political and social justice. In a statement issued here, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti lauded the role of Mirwaiz and Lone in the peaceful struggle for the resolution of Kashmir issue. “Both these leaders have played a critical role in the struggle for mitigation of political, economic and social problems of the people of Jammu & Kashmir,” she said. Paying rich tributes to the deceased leaders, Mufti said the political turmoil in the state gave the Kashmiris thousands of wounds that would take years to heal. “The best tribute to these leaders would be the peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue. If alive, both Mirwaiz and Lone could have contributed further towards the political and social upliftment of Jammu and Kashmir,” she added. Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Farooq Abdullah also paid glowing tributes to Moulvi Farooq and Gani Lone on their death anniversaries. Former Cabinet Minister and Apni Party Senior Vice President Ghulam Hassan Mir also paid rich tributes to the two Kashmiri leaders for their contribution to the society in their respective fields. In his tweet, Mir wrote that Late Abdul Gani Lone had raised voice of dissent at a time when it was much difficult and late Molvi Farooq’s contribution in the educational field was of great significance. “Both heroes of ours in their own fields were silenced by violence and the best tribute to them is to stand up against the violence,” the tweet read. UNI MJR RJ
