Jammu 11 February:- CPI(M) and Jammu Civil Society for Art and Culture pays rich tributes to the veteran Marxist leader,Comrade Krishan Dev Sethi.
In a condolence meeting organized by CP(I)M and Jammu civil society which was presided by M.Y Tarigami,the participants paid rich tributes to the departed Veteran Marxist Leader Comrade Krishan Dev Sethi After paying floral tributes, the large number of participants highlighted the remarkable role of the late leader in the building of Naya Kashmir after the independence in 1947.His contribution as a member of the Constituent Assembly of the J&K and one of the front rank leaders was also recalled and appreciated .
A close associate of late Sethi Khalid Hussain who was the first speaker read out a message by Justice Ab. Majeed of MIrpur (POK) who had been a childhood friend of Mr. Sethi. The message while expressing sorrow on the departure of Mr. Sethi described him as a symbol of tolerance, unity and oneness of the erstwhile state of J&K. Khalid Hussain himself asserted that Krishan Dev Sethi was a true Marxist and a man of principle. He described his visit to his home town Mirpur (POK) and said that he was given a warm welcome there, indicating his popularity even across the LOC.
Aslam Qureshi, Retired IAS described the late leader as a rationalist whose approach to political and social issues remained balanced. Mir Shahid Saleem read out a revolutionary poem of Mr. Sethi while Gullchain Singh Chadak former legislator and president Dogra Sadder Sabha Jammu, referred to his adoption of middle path and total truthfulness which should be followed. Jameel Kazmi the senior Advocate and another associate of the late leader praised the open mindedness objective, understanding of socio political issues and mild temperament. Well known Ghandian SP Verma described Mr. Sethi as an apostle of peace and appealed the gathering to work for peace and tranquility in Jammu & Kashmir which is facing new challenges. The Trade union leader Omprakash stressed upon taking forward Krishan Dev sethi’s mission of unity and struggle. Qasim Sajad a journalist from Kashmir described the late leader an icon of humanness with a very friendly nature. Prof Yog Dutt highlighted late Sethi,s struggle against communalism, power chauvinism and divisive tactics for political gains. A social activist from Kargil Sajad Kargili appealed the progressive and emancipated social and political activists to defeat all those conspiracies which are bent upon to divide people. The retired IIS officer and broadcast journalist M.Y. Ganaie (Nairang) stressed on taking forward the mission of late Sethi regarding unprejudiced thinking and continuous struggle for human dignity.
Suhail Kazmi the well known journalist and civil society activist narrated some episodes and his close association with the late leader and said that he was a multi dimensional personality with logical thinking and served as a bridge between Jammu & Kashmir and that we should continue his unfinished job.
Concluding the proceedings of the meeting CPI(M) leader M.Y Tarigami described himself as a disciple of the Late leader but said that the real tribute to the departed is to carry forward the ideas which he cherished and which are still relevant for transforming our social and economic surroundings into a progressive, secular and just society; where all the citizens, irrespective of their race, area and belief system can live with diginity and comfort. In this respect, Tarigami referred to the ongoing struggle of the farmers and said that all the justice loving and progressive groups and individuals of the country should extend full support to this struggle . He also referred to the dictatorial negative and unwanted division of J&K and said that we have to struggle against this kind of anti democratic measures by the establishment . The unconstitional breakup and down grading of the erstwhile state is not only unacceptable but is bound to prove counterproductive. It is as such imperative that the divisive agenda of the forces that be must be defeated by a united struggle. Tarigami affirmed that the constituent Assembly of which comrade Sethi was the last member had given us a constitution, the core of which was revolutionary land reforms, universal education, empowerment of woman besides decentralization of power and had also established a legal and voluntary bond between J&K and the rest of the country. As such the abolition of this bond is bound to weaken, we are afraid the very basis of the relationship. The others who spoke on the occasion included Ravider Singh Comrade Sachdev Singh and Kusam Tikoo.
