Farooq not stepping down as NC prez

SYED ALI SAFVI

SRINAGAR, July 21: Putting all speculations to rest, union minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah today made it clear that he would not quit as National Conference (NC) president. He made the announcement a day ahead of crucial working committee meeting of the party.

Moreover, the senior Abdullah also brushed aside the speculations about the possible cabinet reshuffle.

“Time will come when I have to leave the post of party president, but as of now I am not going to leave the post come what may,” he said during an interview with Radio Kashmir Srinagar.

Significantly, the ruling National Conference had reportedly decided to undertake first-of-its-kind overhaul in the party, which included removal of the party president, Dr Farooq Abdullah, and general secretary, Sheikh Nazir, from their respective posts.

Terming the reports as “baseless”, Farooq said that these were the rumours being spread by the media.

“All this is being done by the media. Perhaps newspapers are fed by some persons,” he said.

Asked about the possibility of new faces being inducted in the state cabinet, Farooq feigned ignorance, asserting that it was in the hands of chief minister, Omar Abdullah.

“The chief minister can ask the president of both the coalition partners (NC and Congress) before taking any decision on cabinet reshuffle,” he said. “I don’t think it (reshuffle) is possible in the near future.”

Asked why the government was not taking the opposition into confidence and that why he himself does not talk to state’s principle opposition, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Farooq said, “It’s true I don’t talk to them, neither have I ever tried for it, but then I think if I take the initiative they (PDP leadership) will consider that I have knelt before them.”

He said he was not the one who would kneel before any one.

“When Mufti (Mohammad) Sayeed’s daughter was kidnapped, I told him that she was not only his daughter, but my daughter also,” he said. “But Mufti told me that late Sheikh (Mohammad Abdullah) sahib had damaged his self esteem.”

Stating that he did not harbour any grudge against Mufti and PDP leadership, Farooq advised the PDP to play the role of a constructive opposition.

“Though I can not suggest them, but they need to introspect where the future of our children is heading towards,” he said.

Farooq said that if the PDP believed that the future of children lies in transferring the power back to them then they need to wait for a few more years.

Welcoming the state government’s decision to constitute an independent commission to probe into civilian killings in Kashmir, Farooq said that the government should put up a true picture before the public.

“A relief of even Rs 10 lakh can not bring solace to the families of victims,” he said. “Time is the best healer.

Pertinently, the working committee of ruling National Conference is meeting tomorrow discuss various issues ranging from the party structure to present political crisis in the state.

There were reports that the president and general secretary of the party would be removed from their places. Speculations were rife that minister for finance, Abdul Rahim Rather and minister for law, Ali Mohammad Sagar would be given prime party posts to strengthen the party at grass root level.

After then president NC, Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the chief minister in January 2009, his father Farooq took over as the party president. However, after the senior Abdullah was inducted into the union cabinet, it had a telling effect on working of the party. Moreover, the general secretary of NC, Sheikh Nazir, has not been keeping well for the last two-three months. He had suffered mild cardiac attack in March this year and was rushed to New Delhi for treatment.

A sections of media reported that the National Conference, for the first time since its inception, may be headed by a non-Sheikh family member.