44 years after Sadiq, a Padma Vibhushan likely for Mufti Sayeed

• 55 persons from J&K have been honoured with Padma awards since 1954. List also includes two former CMs – GM Sadiq (1972) and Syed Mir Qasim (2006) –both posthumously. The NC has often complained as why Sheikh Abdullah was not honoured. There has been a demand for Bharat Ratna for him.


ZAFAR CHOUDHARY


JAMMU: Forty-four years after all time great integrationist from Kashmir politics got the highest civilian honour of the country, the former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is set to get (posthumously) this year’s Padma Vibhushan Award.
The last and the only person from Jammu and Kashmir to get the Padma Vibhushan –first of the four highest civilian honours in India –was Ghulam Mohammad Sadiq. A year after his death, Sadiq was awarded Padma Vibhushan (posthumously) in 1972.
Mufti Sayeed, whose first death anniversary is being observed tomorrow, would also become the third Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir to get Padma award. Syed Mir Qasim, the earlier political mentor of Mufti was awarded with Padma Bhushan in 2006 –the year after his death and, ironically, 31 years after he relinquished the office of Chief Minister to pave way for implementation of Indira-Sheikh accord, following which the latter took over as Chief Minister.
Incidentally, all three former Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir did a great deal of work to enhance constitutional, political and emotional integration of Kashmir with the Union of India. However, Sadiq and Qasim got the recognition after their deaths while an honour for Mufti is in the pipeline.
A recommendation for Padma Vibhushan award to Mufti Sayeed, sources said, has been initiated by the state government which has been ‘suitably agreed to’ by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. After the final approval, the recommendation shall have to get the President’s assent. The award will be announced on the eve of Republic Day later this month.
Ever since the institution of Padma Awards in 1954, Ghulam Mohammad Sadiq remains the only person from Jammu and Kashmir to have been honored with Padma Vibhushan. In all, there are 55 Padma awardees from Jammu and Kashmir -49 of them are the Padma Sharee and only five have got the Padma Bhushan. The Padma Bhushan awardees are –Asaf Ali Asghar Fayzee (1962), Lt Gen TN Raina (1972), Balraj Puri (2005), Syed Mir Qasim (2006) and Mian Bashir Ahmed (2009).
Sadiq was the last Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1964-65). It was during his tenure that the titles of the executive and constitutional head of Jammu and Kashmir were rechristened as Chief Minister and Governor from the then existing titles of Prime Minister and Sadre-e-Riyasat. Sadiq, therefore, also became the first Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and continued in the office till 1971 when he died. He was awarded with Padma Vibhushan a year after his death.
The National Conference has often argued and complained that its founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah didn’t get appropriate recognition from the Government of India. On various occasions the NC has demanded Bharat Ratna for him.