Coalition govt has no information on ‘Sher-e-Kashmir’

National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah is popularly known by this title in the state

In a major embarrassment to the main opposition party National Conference (NC), the coalition government has said there was no official record with it wherein former Chief Minister and NC founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was officially or legally conferred the title “Sher-e-Kashmir”.

The startling revelation that may stir a political controversy in the state was made on the eve of the birth anniversary of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, popularly known as Sher-e-Kashmir in Jammu and Kashmir.

J&K will observe Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’s birth anniversary tomorrow. He is the father of former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and grandfather of Omar Abdullah.

The state observes holidays on his birth and death anniversaries.

Jammu-based activist Deepak Sharma had filed an RTI application on October 6, 2015, to know the name of the person conferred the title ‘Sher-e-Kashmir’ in J&K. The General Administrative Department responded to his queries on October 20, saying: “The information is not available on the records of the department.”

Sharma had also sought information about whether Sheikh Abdullah was ever officially or legally given/conferred the title Sher-e-Kashmir by the state or the Central governments. He had asked for the certified copy of the order/notification/communication.

Expressing surprise over the reply, Sharma said, “On the one hand, there are several institutions and establishments in the state on the name of ‘Sher-e-Kashmir’ and on the other, the government has no record of who Sher-e-Kashmir is?”

“More surprising is that even in some government establishments, the name of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah is attached with the title of Sher-e-Kashmir,” he said. “There are universities, bridges, conference halls, police training institutes and several other public buildings and schemes having this nomenclature,” he added.