Srinagar: Chief Patron Jammu Kashmir Mahaz-e-Azadi (MeA) Muhammad Azam Inqilabi Wednesday paid tributes to MeA founder and renowned pro-freedom leader Sofi Muhammad Akbar on his 25th death anniversary.
In a statement here, Inqilabi said Sofi Akbar joined resistance movement against autocratic Dogra rule even before 1931.
“He (Akbar) started writing about Kashmir resistance in Punjab based newspapers then. In his 18 year struggle against tyrant Dogra regime he remained in jail for four years,†Inqilabi said.
He said on Nov. 11, 1947 the then Indian Prime Minister Pandit Nehru promised referendum to Kashmiris.
“Later on 9 August 1953 then Prime Minister of Kashmir Sheikh Abdullah was arrested and his government dismissed. Sofi Akbar and dozens of leaders were arrested and plebiscite front leaders and activists remained in jails for 11 years,†he added.
Sofi Akbar was rearrested in 1965 and served two-and-a-half-year jail term.
MeA patron said after the fall of Dhaka in 1971 and subsequent Indo-Pak Shimla agreement, Sheikh Abdullah through 1974 Indra-Sheikh accord took a U-turn and held power as Chief Minister.
“Sofi Akbar rebelled against Sheikh’s decision and returned to his hometown Sopore and founded Mahaz-e-Azadi on 7 may 1977 to continue the freedom struggle. Akbar was then 88,†he said.
After 10 years on 14 Dec 1987 Sofi Akbar died at the age of 98.
“Entire nation remembers his selfless service to the freedom struggle. In his 60 year resistance struggle he spent nearly 29 years in jails and detention centres,†said Inqilabi.
He said Kashmir youth “followed in the footsteps of Sofi Akbar and martyr Maqbool Bhat to highlight the Kashmir dispute.â€
MeA patron said if India doesn’t initiate tripartite talks to settle Kashmir issue “youth will again find recourse to 1990’s way.â€
“It will be better that India
n leaders fulfill the promise of Pandit Nehru with Kashmiris regarding referendum to settle Kashmir dispute,†he said. (KMW News)
