Kashmiriyat denotes amity: Omar

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Friday said that ‘Kashmiriyat’ denotes amity, brotherhood and love adding that this trait of the State has remained its symbol throughout the history.
Speaking to a congregation of Sikh Community at Chatti Padshashi here on the occasion of Guru Hargobind’s Day, the Chief Minister referred to the nurturing of this characteristic by Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. He said the slogan of ‘Hindu, Muslim, Sikh Itihaad’ preached and practiced by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah is continuously reverberating the valleys, planes and mountains of the State.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the role played by Sikh Community to strengthen the harmony and said that Sikhs of Valley have always lived in an atmosphere of brotherhood with majority community even during the challenging period of trouble and disturbances. “You lived with Muslim brethren in amity and faced the brunt of hard days together”, he said and praised their role.
The Chief Minister underscored the need for strengthening Kashmiriyat and working together by all sections of the society to achieve the goal of peace and prosperity. He said the inclusive and equitable development for all is the benchmark of his government and reaching out to people without any consideration is the hallmark of coalition government’s governance.
The Chief Minister said that the elections to Gurudawara Prabandak Committee would be set in motion soon, so that the Community elects its representatives and gets the problems addressed at various levels. “I will ask the Law Minister to sit with you and finalize the process of holding elections to Gurudawara Prabandak Committee”, he said and assured the Sikh Community that their genuine demands would be given due consideration for addressing.
On reaching Chatti Padshashi, Omar Abdullah was received warmly and presented traditional sword.
The Legislator and Provincial President Kashmir, National Conference, Nasir Aslam Wani and MLC Dharam Vir Singh Oberoi were present on the occasion.