No change in July 20 statehood protest plan after Mustafa Kamal’s death: Omar Abdullah

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said there would be no change in the National Conference’s planned statehood protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20 despite the death of senior party leader Mustafa Kamal.

Senior NC leader and uncle of Omar Abdullah, Mustafa Kamal, 84, died on Tuesday evening in Srinagar. Kamal was also the younger brother of National Conference president Farooq Abdullah.

Speaking to reporters in Srinagar Omar said the veteran leader himself would not have wanted the Delhi programme to be postponed.

“There will be no change in this. Neither would Mustafa Kamal sahib wanted any change in this,” Omar said.

Recalling the senior leader’s final days, chief minister said Kamal’s health had deteriorated on July 11 and doctors had expressed serious concern over his condition.

On July 11, NC held a major party rally in Srinagar on the 26th death anniversary of Begum Akbar Jehan, wife of the party founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah. The next day the party held a similar rally in Jammu in a show of strength.

“The doctors told us that he might not survive the 11th. But even then, the president of the party, Farooq (Abdullah) sahib, told me that whatever happens, to Mustafa’s sahib, Jammu programme on the (July) 12th has to continue,” he said.

Omar said the party did not cancel its scheduled programme even under those circumstances and, therefore, there was no question of postponing the July 20 protest.

The Chief Minister said the party leaders would travel to Delhi on July 19 regardless of whether permission for the Jantar Mantar demonstration was granted by Delhi police.

“We are still being made to wait (for the permission). As I said on the 11th, we know how to be patient. We will keep our alternate plan ready,” he said.

Omar said he had already informed party colleagues that they would proceed to the national capital as planned.

“I have told my colleagues, who asked me if we would be allowed to go, that we will definitely go to Delhi on the 19th. We may or may not be allowed to hold the protest at Jantar Mantar. We will sit together and discuss what needs to be done. But we will go to Delhi on the 19th,” he said.

Paying tribute to his uncle, Omar Abdullah said Mustafa Kamal was much more than the younger brother of National Conference president, describing him as a dedicated doctor, seasoned politician and a leader who devoted his life to public service.

He said Kamal continued treating poor patients free of cost at his weekly clinic in Tangmarg even while serving as the Health Minister of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir.

Recalling his political journey, Omar said Kamal served as an MLC before being elected to the Assembly in 1987 from Tangmarg, returned from the same constituency in 1996, and later represented Patan and Hazratbal through subsequent elections.

Calling it a difficult time for the family and the party, Omar said the large number of mourners who had gathered to pay their last respects reflected the impact Kamal had on people’s lives.

“After seeing so many people gathering here, it is clear that Mustafa sahib has touched the lives of many people. We are very grateful for this,” he said.