By Agence India Press,
Srinagar: Senior politician, a noted poet and writer and an environmentalist of Kashmir, Sadiq Ali breathed his last after a pro – long illness at SK institute of Medical Sciences, Soura on April 18 in Srinagar.
“Sadiq was suffering from heart disease and was battling for life from last 15 months,” said Sadiq’s acquaintance, Muhammad Shahid told Agence India Press.
“His death has created a vacuum that cannot be fulfilled. Being in the politics, he has been helping and working for the poor and supporting for the environmental issues,” Shahid adds.
Sadiq had been elected legislator of the Kashmir State Assembly for three consecutive terms. He has given some important recommendations about the solution of the Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan. He was born in Srinagar into an influential business family. His father, late Jaffer Ali was a Papier-Machie artist and businessman.
Sadiq Ali graduated from Aligarh Muslim University and earned his MA in Political Science. He has also written a comprehensive paper on the deteriorating conditions of the forests of Jammu and Kashmir State; he has further submitted an indepth research paper outlining how the Dal Lake may be saved from further degradation.
Sadiq Ali entered politics at a very young age, and was one of the closest associates of Sheikh Abdullah, the founder of National Conference. He was nominated to the State Legislative Council numerous times. He also held the position of treasurer of the JKNC for 23 years.
He quit National Conference stating personal reasons, although he never spoke against the NC party or its principles. There was widespread speculation that the only reason Sadiq Ali quit NC was because of the NC leadership’s inadequate action against a rival from within NC, whom Sadiq had accused of sabotaging his re-election bid from Zadibal.
On March 9, 2008, Farooq Abdullah, the patron of NC, announced to the media that Sadiq Ali has rejoined the party and will be handling the state affairs of the party.