Srinagar, Aug 8:  Valley’s head priest and Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Dr Umar Farooq on Wednesday paid glowing tributes to prominent businessman and owner of Tirath Ram and Company, Vinod Kumar Malhotra who passed away Monday. 
 Terming the deceased a “member of extended family”, Dr Mirwaiz said Malhotra and his family had always been with the people of Kashmir in the thick and thin, particularly the past 20 odd years of ongoing conflict. Unlike most other such families, the Malhotras didn’t migrate from Kashmir but stayed back and continued their business in Maharaj Gunj area of the Shaher-e-Khaas.
 “This family has been sharing joys and sorrows with us all these years,” Dr Mirwaiz said adding Malhotra, a hardworking man,  was always there to lend a helping hand to his Kashmiri brethren.
 “He always upheld social values which are typical of Kashmir… Nobody would ever consider him an outsider,” the cleric said while expressing sympathies with the bereaved family at their Gojgi Bagh residence.
 Apart from others, Mirwaiz was accompanied by his close aide and senior separatist leader Advocate Shahid-Ul-Islam. Shahid couldn’t hold his tears but broke down saying “with the death of Malhotra Bhai people of Kashmir have lost their caring brother.”
 “He was always the same caring personality irrespective of what now is being termed as pre or post ’90 era,” Shahid said.
  Vinod Kumar Malhotra son of Lal Chand Teerath Ram Malhotra of Maharaj Gung is being seen as symbol of religious harmony. He didn’t leave Valley during ‘90s when Pandits migrated to other parts of the country. His Chautha and Uthala will be held on Thursday at 114-Gogji Bagh, Srinagar between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
 Meanwhile Dr Mirwaiz also visited Nawab Bazar residence of a senior party activist, Ali Muhammad Khan who passed away recently. He paid Khiraaj Tehseen to the deceased and praised his contribution towards the Kashmir movement.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 8 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 8 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 9 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST