Sheikh Nazir never applied for a passport He never treated himself an Indian
Srinagar, Feb 24, CNS: Oldest stalwart of National Conference Sheikh Nazir who died at the age of 84 never applied for passport as he believed that he was never an Indian but only a Kashmiri.
In a interview in recent past, Sheikh Nazir maintained that he has never accepted Indian passport. “When Sheikh Sahib had to visit Iraq, he wanted to take me along but I told him that I don’t have a passport nor am I going to have one till I die. But yes, I’m a Kashmiri and my nationality is Kashmiri not an Indian. Yes, I am contributing in whichever manner I can. Babe-e-Quom (Sheikh Abdullah) always referred to Kashmir as nation, never as Riyasat (State) because we were a very strong independent country. We have been occupied since Mughal period, and the occupation is still continuing till date. We defeated Akbar almost 17 times before he made inroads into Kashmir. We were a great nation. We were a great people of an independent country called Kashmir. I believe we should be given a free hand for running our own affairs. We have always said it to Indians. As far as Pakistan is concerned, had it not invaded us, our condition would have been different altogether. We would have emerged as an independent country had Pakistan not mingled with our affairs in 1947. Our actual struggle is for what Nehru promised to Babe-e-Quom at Lal Chowk in front of lakhs of people and New Delhi should fulfill those promises.”
He had also held Government of India responsible for the random killing of youth and had said that it is not the state government but the troops of Government of India like paramilitary forces, which were responsible for it. (CNS)
