Srinagar, July 15, KNT: A day after the demise of senior National Conference leader and former minister Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the party’s scheduled “Delhi Chalo – We Want Our Statehood” programme would go ahead as planned, asserting that the veteran leader himself would not have wanted the political campaign to be interrupted.
Speaking to reporters, Omar Abdullah described the occasion as an extremely difficult moment for both his family and the National Conference, saying the late leader had carved out his own place in Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape.
“This is a very difficult time for our family and the National Conference. Beyond being my father’s younger brother, Mustafa Kamal held a stature of his own. He served as an MLA on several occasions. Seeing so many people gathered here makes it evident that he touched countless lives,” Omar said.
Referring to the National Conference’s planned protest in the national capital seeking restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, the Chief Minister said there would be no change in the party’s schedule despite the bereavement.
“There will be no change to those plans. Mustafa Kamal himself would not have wanted any alteration. When his health deteriorated on the 11th, doctors had told us it was unlikely he would survive the day. Even then, I had instructions from the party president, Dr Farooq Abdullah, that we had to proceed with our scheduled programme in Jammu on the 12th,” he said.
Omar said the National Conference would travel to New Delhi on July 19 as planned.
“We will definitely go to Delhi on July 19. If we don’t get permission for Jantar Mantar, we will deliberate on the next course of action. But we are going to Delhi on July 19,” he said.
The National Conference has announced a protest in the national capital to press for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, with party leaders maintaining that the demand remains central to their political agenda.
Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, a senior National Conference leader, former Cabinet minister and younger brother of Dr Farooq Abdullah, passed away on Tuesday after a prolonged illness. His funeral prayers were attended by senior political leaders, party workers and hundreds of mourners from across Jammu and Kashmir. [KNT]
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