Abdul Aziz Zargar
Indian politician (c.1925–2013)
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Abdul Aziz Zargar (c. 1925 – 5 February 2013) was an Indian politician who served as Agriculture minister in 1972 during the Syed Mir Qasim's government and again in the PDP–Congress coalition government led by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Ghulam Nabi Azad from 2002 to 2008. He was associated with the National Conference, the Indian National Congress, and later the Peoples Democratic Party. He was a member of the Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir formed in 1951.[3] He was the last living member of the constituent assembly.[4]
Abdul Aziz Zargar | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 2002–2008 | |
| Constituency | Noorabad |
| In office 1987–1996 | |
| Constituency | Noorabad |
| In office 1972–1977 | |
| Constituency | Noorabad |
| In office 1967–1972 | |
| Constituency | Noorabad |
| In office 1962–1967[1] | |
| Constituency | Devsar |
| In office 1957–1962[1] | |
| Constituency | Devsar |
| Agriculture Minister of Jammu and Kashmir | |
| In office 2002–2008[2] | |
| Chief minister | Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Ghulam Nabi Azad |
| In office 1972–1975 | |
| Chief minister | Syed Mir Qasim |
| Member of the Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir | |
| In office 1951–1956[1] | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1925 |
| Died | 5 February 2013 (aged 87–88) Jammu, India |
| Party | Peoples Democratic Party |
Other political affiliations | Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (until 1964) Indian National Congress (~1964–2000) |
Early life
Zargar was born in Manzgam village of Kulgam district the then part of Anantnag district of princely state Jammu and Kashmir, British India. His education and personal life is not widely documented.[5]
Career
Zargar was initially associated with the political movement (Quit Kashmir movement) led by Sheikh Abdullah and participated in the 1931 Kashmir agitation during the pre-1953 period. Following Abdullah's dismissal and arrest in 1953, he joined Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad and continued in active politics through the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference. He was elected to the legislative assembly from the Devsar constituency in 1957 and was re-elected from the same constituency in 1962. Zargar served as a legislator for more than 29 years and held ministerial office for around two decades.[1]
Following the decline of the Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad government, Zargar joined Ghulam Mohammed Sadiq and joined the Indian National Congress. He was subsequently elected to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly from the Noorabad constituency in 1967, 1972 and 1987.[1]
According to the Economic Times publication of 2003, Zargar also served as Forest minister in 1972 besides holding Agriculture ministerial portfolio and chairperson Jammu and Kashmir Industries.[6]
Zargar joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2000 and was elected from the Noorabad constituency in the 2002 assembly election. He lost the Noorabad seat to National Conference candidate Sakina Itoo in the 2008 assembly elections, marking an end of his political career.[1] He died on 5 February 2013 at his residence in Jammu following a long illness.[3]
Controversies
In 2003, Zargar offered his resignation from the ministerial post amid allegations that his ancestral residence in Manzgam village of Kulgam district the then part of Anantnag district, had been linked to accused in connection with the 2002 Akshardham Temple attack in Gujarat. However, chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed did not accept his resignation, reportedly describing Zargar as the only surviving signatory to the Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly.[6] The allegations drew significant political attention and prompted calls for his removal from the cabinet.[7]
Zargar denied any involvement or knowledge of the accused persons' activities, maintaining that he had not occupied the property in question for several years prior to the incident. No formal charges were brought against him in connection with the case.[7]