Srinagar: Governor N. N. Vohra, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, several ministers of Mehbooba Government, Chief Secretary B B Vyas,National Conference President and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, National Conference Working President Omar Abdullah and many other top public functionaries have in their separate statements extended warm greetings to the people on Diwali, the festival of lights, and hoped that this auspicious occasion would be a harbinger of peace, progress and prosperity in the State.
In his message of greetings, Governor N N Vohra observed that this festival symbolizes the triumph of truth and righteousness over falsehood and of good over evil and highlights the ethos and high values of the country’s civilization history.
Governor hoped that the festival would further strengthen the bonds of communal harmony, brotherhood, amity, tranquility and secularism, which are the hallmarks of our glorious composite cultural traditions and prayed for the well-being of the people of the State.
In her message of greetings, the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti hoped the Festival of Lights, as Diwali is popularly called, would bring everlasting happiness and peace to the people of the State. She said Jammu & Kashmir is proud that its residents celebrate the festivals of every religion and community with equal joy. Mehbooba Mufti has prayed for prosperity and well of people on the occasion.
In his message of greetings, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh appealed the people to use the auspicious day of festival of light to brighten the lives of others by celebrating the occasion together and in an atmosphere of amity.
“Diwali is a time for festivity and happiness for all. It is an occasion to share our joy with those who are in need”, he said. Dr Singh also expressed hope that the festival of lights this year will “mark the beginning of a new phase of optimism” for everyone.
Greeting the people on the occasion of Diwali, National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah wished prosperity to the State and happiness to its people. He highlighted the spirit of celebrating festivals in an atmosphere of amity and brotherhood and called for strengthening this tradition. Dr. Farooq Abdullah also prayed for the peace and tranquility in the State.
In a separate message, National Conference Working President and another former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, “May this Diwali bring peace, prosperity and happiness in the life of people of State.” He stressed on the need for strengthening harmony and brotherhood in the glorious traditions of the State’s pluralistic ethos. Omar Abdullah hoped that the festival would be celebrated with fervor and gaiety.
In his message, Chief Secretary B B Vyas appealed people to celebrate the festival of light together and use the auspicious day to brighten the lives of others with an atmosphere of amity and brotherhood. He hoped that the festival will “mark the beginning of a new phase of optimism” for everyone in J&K.
In their felicitation messages, Speaker Assembly Kavinder Gupta and Chairman Legislative Council Haji Anayat Alu said Jammu and Kashmir is an abode of rich cultural ethos where the people of different religions live together with harmony for centuries. They also prayed for the happiness and well being of the people of the state. Deputy Speaker, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Nazir Ahmed Khan Gurezi has also extended greetings to the people of State on the eve of Diwali.
Several ministers of the Mehbooba government have also greeted the people of the State on the auspicious occasion of Diwali.The Ministers hoped that this auspicious occasion would further strengthen the bonds of communal harmony, amity, and brotherhood and will be harbinger of peace, progress and prosperity for the State and its people.
The Ministers including, Minister for Revenue, Disaster Management, Relief Rehabilitation & Reconstruction and Parliamentary Affairs, Abdul Rehman Veeri, Minister for Horticulture, Syed Basharat Bukhari, Minister for Forests, Ecology & Environment, Choudhary Lal Singh, Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat, Minister for Rural Development, Law, Justice and Panchayati Raj, Abdul Haq, Minister for Social Welfare, Science and Technology and ARI & Trainings, Sajad Gani Lone, Minister for Agriculture Production, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura, Minister for Finance, Labour & Employment, Dr Haseeb A Drabu, Minister for Information Technology, Technical Education and Youth Services and Sports, Molvi Imran Raza Ansari, Minister for PWD, Mr Naeem Akhtar, Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sham Lal Choudhary, Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Parkash Ganga, Minister for Education, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, Ministers for Cooperative and Ladakh Affairs, Chering Dorjay and Minister for Animal, Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries, Abdul Ghani Kohli while extending felicitations to the people, prayed for their well being and happiness.
They expressed the hope that the Diwali would open a new chapter of progress and all round development in the State.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Health & Medical Education and Social Welfare Asiea Naqash, Minister of State for Transport and Revenue, Sunil Kumar Sharma, Minister of State for Education and Tourism, Priya Sethi, Minister of State for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Mir Zahoor Ahmed and Minister of State for Finance and Planning, Ajay Nanda, have also greeted the people on this auspicious occasion of Diwali.
Greeting the people on the occasion of Diwali Prof Amitabh Matoo the Advisor to Chief Minister hoped that Diwali would be harbinger of peace, progress and prosperity for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The Advisor further said while celebrating festivals, we must remember the poor and needy and share joy with them.