What’s Omar reading?

SYED ALI SAFVI

SRINAGAR, Nov 8: It seems chief minister, Omar Abdullah, has finally paid heed to the suggestion of Congress’ state unit chief, Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz to read “Aatish-e Chinar”.

A photograph circulated by state-run information department in its daily bulletin today showed the English version of his grandfather’s autobiographical book, “Flames of the Chinar” lying on his office table.

The chief minister, in the photograph, is seen holding video conferencing at his Jammu office to review the development as well as law and order situation in the valley. Besides his grandfather’s autobiographical book, his favourite Blackberry mobile phone is also seen on the table.

Pertinently, Soz had, on October 24, advised Omar to read Sheikh’s book.

“I advise the young Omar to go through the book of his grandfather,” he had said.

The chief minister had, in his October 6 speech in the state assembly, said that J&K had “acceded to India under unique circumstances and it had not merged with India.” He had also stressed for inclusion of Pakistan in the 'final settlement of the issue'.

Significantly, India’s external affair minister, SM Krishna, had supported Omar’s statement, saying that the state of J&K had acceded to India just like Mysore.

However, JKPCC chief had strongly reacted to Omar's statement.

“Sheikh had, in fact, rejected it (two-nation theory) prior to 1947 when he had a meeting with Jinnah at the latter's residence in Delhi as recorded in his autobiography 'Aatish-e-Chinar,” he had said while addressing a public meeting at Dayalachak in Kathua district.

A staunch supporter of the Sheikh and one-time NC stalwart, Soz was invited to join NC by the Sheikh himself and asked to contest for his native Baramulla seat in late 70s. However, according to Soz, Sheikh’s family members had opposed his nomination.

Soz remained close to Farooq Abdullah and served three terms as an NC member parliament (MP). However, he didn't like Farooq's style of governing, and finally in April 1999 he was ousted from the party after he had caste vote against NC-supported BJP-led government.