NC celebrates Christmas at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan

Dr Mustafa, Rattan Lal convey X-Mas greetings, urge to strengthen communal harmony

JAMMU, December 24: Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Additional General Secretary, J&K National Conference has stressed upon the need for further strengthening the bonds of  communal harmony and brotherhood among the people belonging to various communities in J&K.

Asserting that ‘communal harmony and peaceful coexistence ’ is the hallmark of the culture rather civilization of this part of the nation, he said the celebration of the festival of a particular community witnessing participation of all the other communities corroborates the aforesaid fact. 

The senior National Conference expressed this while presiding over the Christmas celebration organized by Waris Gill, President Christian Association Cell, JKNC at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan here today. Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President JKNC Jammu, Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Additional General Secretary, Mubarak Gul former speaker, Babu Rampal, Central President, (Jammu, Samba and Kathua) and former Minister, Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, Provincial Secretary JKNC, Vijay Lochan P.P SC Cell, Abdul Gani Teli P.P OBC Cell  and several leaders and workers were present on the occasion.

It is pertinent to mention here that during the celebratory function, Dr Mustafa Kamal along with Rattan Lal Gupta along with the members of Christian community and party workers cut the traditional cake and greeted those present on the occasion especially the members of the Christian community on the auspicious occasion. 

While addressing the gathering at the venue of the function, Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal stated that brotherhood, harmony and amity form the integral basis of Jammu and Kashmir’s rich legacy and should be nurtured and strengthened at all costs. He said that National Conference firmly believes in secularism and continues to adhere to this precious philosophy of co-existence. He said that no religion preaches hatred and intolerance. In fact all the religions stress on reverence to the other religions and the people belonging to different faiths. 

Rattan Lal Gupta lamented that some political parties are relentlessly trying to create a communal divide in order to secure their vested interests. However, the people are wise enough and can see through the underlying game-plan and the sinister designs of such politicians and political parties. Undoubtedly they will defeat all such designs and maintain the secular ethos of the party across the Union Territory as envisioned by the doyen of the party late Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. He concluded his address by praying for peace, prosperity of this Union Territory and welfare of its people.

Mubarak Gul former Speaker and senior leader said that secular bonding is the spirit which has all long guided National Conference. He said recalling the Cherished slogan of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh Itehad raised by Sheikh Sahib during most turbulent times.

Babu Rampal, in his address, appealed to the party workers of Jammu, Samba and Kathua to make people about the achievements of the Party and strengthen the base of Party at grass roots level.

Sheikh Bashir Ahmed said the Christmas festival is a celebration of peace, love, hope and harmony. He said such festival provides an opportunity to celebrate the spirit of sharing and brotherhood. The festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ is an occasion to celebrate and imbibe Lord Christ’s message of peace, love, compassion and forgiveness. We must rededicate ourselves for the welfare of humankind, he added.

Those who were present in the meeting included  : Shariq Ud Din Ex-MP, Bushan Lal Bhat, Pardeep Bali, Vijay Lakhshmi Datta, Shamim Begum DDC Dansal, Ch. Rehmat Ali BDC Chairman, Chander Mohan Sharma District President Jammu Urban,  Rakesh Singh Raka, Dilshad Malik, S. Gurnam Singh, Master Aslam, Ankush Abrol, Ashwani Charak, S. Tejinder Singh,  Dr. Vikas , Ch. Shabeer, Imran Goni, Reyaz Ahmed Hakala, Sain Dass, S. Nirmal Singh and others.

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