Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Monday asserted that the contribution of the Red Cross movement cannot be underestimated.
The party President in his message on Red Cross Day said it was a privilege for him to have his mother Madar-e-Maharban Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah as the state head of J&K Red Cross society from 1947 to 1957. “She used the platform of the Red Cross to help the people across the state. She organized peace committees in Srinagar in 1946 and established the state branch of the Indian Red Cross Society in 1948-49 and was its first president.”
“She worked for the welfare of the children and the women, established J&K Mahaz- e- Behboodi e Khwateen, Miskeen Bagh in November 1975,” he said.
While laying emphasis on the involvement of youth in Red Cross programs and extending services to people, Dr Farooq said, “The youth of today should voluntarily come out for such service whenever they get a chance.”
The Red Cross, he said, is a body dedicated to the help and welfare of the poor and destitute. “I take this opportunity to applaud the role played by the Red Cross during the calamities and hours of challenge. Moreover, society should make students more aware of the activities of the Red Cross and encourage them towards serving the cause of humanity,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Farooq Abdullah asked party functionaries to take the lead in shouldering critical responsibilities to meet various challenges ahead with a sense of belongingness and commitment towards the party and the people.
Interacting with the party functionaries here at Nawa-e-Subha, Dr. Farooq focussed his attention on the responsibilities of the party office bearers asking them to intensify their efforts to highlight the historical role of the party in the socio-political emancipation of the people of J&K.
The functionaries, who were present on the occasion raised very pertinent issues concerning the party & the public.
General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, Addl General Secretary Dr. Mustafa Kamal, Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq, State Women’s Wing President Shameema Firdous, Mohammad Syed Akhoon, State Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar, Provincial Secretary Showkat Ahmed Mir, District President Srinagar Peer Afaq, YNC Provincial President Salman Ali Sagar, party leaders Shafkat Watali, JS Azad, were also present in the meeting.
