Srinagar, June 27: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad, today visited Dastgeer Sahab (RA) Shrine at Khanyar and took stock of the damage caused due to the fire.
Expressing grief over the tragic fire incident at the shrine and terming it unfortunate, Azad appealed the people to maintain peace and amity.
Azad complimented the efforts of Sajada Nisheen Khalid Geelani, Ghulam Nabi Khan and others for displaying courage and protecting the sacred relics and Taburakat. He said that people of the valley have great attachment with the shrine.
Azad said that he used to pay obeisance at the shrine from the time when he was a student at SP College, Srinagar.
He expressed solidarity with the people of the valley on this tragic incident and hoped that work on new building of the shrine will be started soon.
Former Union Minister and state Congress President Prof Saifuddin Soz also visited Khanyar and offered obeisance at the shrine. He examined the damage to the shrine caused by the devastating fire.
On this occasion he offered thanks to Sajada Nisheen Khalid Geelani and Ghulam Nabi Khan and others on behalf of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and on his behalf for protecting the sacred relics.
Prof Soz told the gathering, including Sajada Nisheen, Mutawalies and others, that the functionaries of the Congress party, individually and

collectively, would join the people to restore the shrine to its original glory.
Prof Soz appealed the people that in spite of anxiety in their heart and mind due to damage to the shrine, they must allow the Government to explain facts to the people as also start efforts towards restoration of the premises.
Member Parliament Dr Karan Singh paid visit to the shrine and expressed grief over the fire incident.
He said that people of all faiths have deep regard for the shrine particularly those of the valley. He said that whenever he visited the valley he used to pay obeisance at all the shrines particularly this shrine of Peer Dastgeer Sahab (RA). He expressed solidarity with the people of the valley on the occasion and appealed them to maintain peace and amity.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 27 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 27 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 28 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST