Srinagar, Jul 15 (KNO): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the National Conference (NC) will leave for New Delhi on July 19 even if authorities deny permission for the party’s proposed protest at Jantar Mantar, asserting that the programme for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s “snatched rights” will continue as scheduled.
Speaking to reporters here, Abdullah, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said there would be no change in the party’s protest programme.
“Our protest at Jantar Mantar remains unchanged,” the CM said, adding that the party would continue to wait for permission while keeping an alternate plan ready.
“We know how to remain patient. We will wait, but we will also keep our alternate plan ready,” he added.
Omar said he had already directed party leaders to leave for New Delhi on July 19, regardless of whether permission is granted.
“I have told my colleagues that we will definitely go to Delhi on July 19. If we are not given permission to hold the protest at Jantar Mantar, we will sit together there and decide our next course of action. But we will certainly go to Delhi,” he said.
Recalling the final days of his uncle, Dr Mustafa Kamal, who passed away on Tuesday, Abdullah said that the late NC leader's health deteriorated on July 11 and doctors had indicated his condition was critical.
“Even at that time, (National Conference president) Dr Farooq Abdullah instructed us that whatever happened, we had to continue with our Jammu programme on July 12. If we did not cancel that programme, there is no question of cancelling the July 20 protest,” he said.
The Chief Minister termed the demise of Dr Kamal as a personal loss for the Abdullah family and the National Conference. “For our family, this is a very difficult time. Apart from being my father’s younger brother, Mustafa Kamal dedicated his life to serving the poor,” he said.
He recalled that Dr Kamal continued to run a free medical clinic in Tangmarg even while serving as Health Minister. "He (Dr Kamal) served as an MLC before being elected to the Assembly from Tangmarg twice, later winning from Pattan in a by-election and representing Hazratbal in 2009," Omar said. “Seeing so many people gathered here today shows how many lives Mustafa Sahib touched. We are deeply grateful for his lifelong service.”—(KNO)