Mufti gave healing touch to J&K
Exactly five days ahead of what would have been his 80th birthday on January 12, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, breathed his last. For Peoples Democratic Party, the death of the PDP patron has left behind hope and despair, alike.
New Delhi: Exactly five days ahead of what would have been his 80th birthday on January 12, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, breathed his last. For Peoples Democratic Party, the death of the PDP patron has left behind hope and despair, alike.
A huge mass of mourners, inclusive of VIPs, family members and party activists, assembled at the first 'Nimaz-e-Jinaza' (funeral prayer) for Sayeed here and a second in his hometown Bijbehara where he was laid to rest, marking the end of a long chapter in Kashmiri politics.
Reactions
President Pranab Mukherjee: Contribution of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to Jammu and Kashmir and India through long years of public service will always be remembered.
PM Narendra Modi: Mufti Sahab provided a healing touch to J&K through his leadership. He will be missed by all of us. Condolences to his family & supporters. What stood out about Mufti Sahab was his statesmanship. In his long political journey he won many admirers across the political spectrum.
Rajnath Singh: He was known for his love for common people, especially the underprivileged. Mufti Sayeed ji had a wonderful understanding of complex issues pertaining to J&K. He wanted to bring permanent peace to the Valley.
Former J&K CM Omar Abdullah: Just heard the terrible news of Mufti Sahib’s passing away. I’m shocked and deeply saddened. May he rest in peace.
Ghulam Nabi Azad: We are saddened, he was a hard-working man. Shocked and grieved to hear of the sad and untimely demise of MM Sayeed, he was one of the tallest leaders from J&K, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said. The nation has lost a great leader and a politician of great distinction. I convey my heartfelt condolences to his daughter and the family, she said.
Sushma Swaraj: Mufti Saheb was a seasoned leader. He has gone when we needed him the most. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
Sonia Gandhi: Extending condolences to Mufti’s wife, Mehbooba Mufti and other family members and friends of Shri Syed, Sonia Gandhi said that in his death the State of J&K and indeed the entire nation had lost a great leader. Recalling his long association with Congress, Smt. Gandhi said Muftiji’s contribution as a humanist and to public life in various capacities will forever be remembered.
Ram Madhav, BJP: Muftiji was a visionary leader who dedicated his entire life to a united and strong Jammu & Kashmir in India. His demise at a crucial juncture is saddening.
Son, the cinematographer
While everyone knows Mufti's daughter Mehbooba Mufti, Mufti also has two other daughters and a son. Tassaduq Hussain his only son, was the cinematographer in the critically acclaimed film Omkara. He was too young to enter politics, so the mantle fell on Mufti's eldest daughter, Mehbooba. Another daughteris of course, Dr Rubaiya Sayeed, who was abducted by Kashmiri militants in 1989. She was freed in exchange of the release of five militants.
First Muslim home minister
In 1989, Mufti became India's first Muslim home minister in the VP Singh government. It was during his tenure that the controversial Armed Forces Special power Act was enforced in Jammu and Kashmir.
The revocation of this Act is one of the key slogans of his Jammu and KAshmir People's Democratic Party, which he formed along with daughter Mehbooba Mufti in 1999.
Once berated as being Delhi's man and for standing up against Kashmir's tallest leader Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Mufti Mohamad Sayeed transformed his image after the PDP's formation, with a soft separatist agenda of self-rule or limited sovereignty for the state.
