Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 12: National Conference leader and former Minister Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, MLA, was at the center of a controversy claiming that the Indian Government was dragging its feet on talks with Pakistan, drawing criticism from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who distanced himself from the remarks while six Congress legislators lambasted his statement describing Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad as `sweet poison’. The MLAs have threatened to withdraw support to the Government if Omar and Dr Farooq Abdullah didn’t clarify the remarks.
Dr Kamal, who returned after performing Hajj last week, while addressing the National Conference workers at Kishtwar yesterday, claimed that the Government was reluctant to sign a ‘no-war treaty’ with Pakistan.
Brother of Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy and National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah and uncle of Omar Abdullah, Dr Kamal also hit out at his coalition partner Congress and main opposition, PDP, saying “coalition is compulsion for us” and “we have plunged into power two keep away both of our enemies from each other, otherwise both had numbers to finish us.”
Distancing himself from Dr Kamal’s statement, Omar said on micro-blogging site -Twitter – “Funny thing is I don’t need anyone to make things difficult for me when I have relatives to do it for me.”
In another tweet, he said, “They say never work with animals and children. I think it’s safe to add relatives to that list as well.”
Meanwhile, National Conference president and Union Minister Farooq Abdullah has termed Kamal’s remarks as “irresponsible”.
“His (Kamal’s) statement is irresponsible. Delhi has never been the enemy of Kashmiris,” he said.
Alliance partner Congress in New Delhi reacted sharply to the remarks of Dr Kamal saying the party condemns such statements.
“Such a remark by any Indian is extremely unfortunate. We condemn this. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. We disassociate ourselves from it”, party spokesman Sandeep Dikshit said.
Dr Kamal had also alleged that the “black laws” imposed by the Centre are targeting civilians rather than militants and that the biggest hurdle for return of peace in Jammu and Kashmir was security forces.
Dr Kamal has sparked a massive outrage with his anti-India rant. While addressing party workers in Kishtwar, Dr Kamal called India the enemy, alleging that time and again India has backtracked from its no war pact with Pakistan.
Dr Kamal remained unapologetic over his remarks.
He had said that the Government of India is enemy of the State and accused troops of disturbing peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
“India is not accepting peace proposals of Pakistan, which has been forwarding proposals like signing “no war treaty” but India does not accept their proposals. We feel that by doing this, India is becoming our enemy,” Kamal had said.
He said the whole world is pressing for solution of the Kashmir issue and India should solve the issue.
Meanwhile, all six Congress legislators from erstwhile Doda district have strongly condemned the remarks of Dr Kamal against India as well as Mr Azad.
They described the regime of Mr Azad as “golden era of development’’ in Jammu and Kashmir. They threatened to withdraw their support from the coalition Government if Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah didn’t come clean on the statement of Dr Kamal.
Signatories to the statement included Mohammad Sharief Niaz, MLA Bhaderwah, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori, MLA Inderwal, Abdul Mujeed Wani, MLA Doda, Ashok Kumar, MLA Ramban, Vikar Rasool Wani, MLA Banihal and Naresh Gupta, MLC.
Omar criticises Kamal’s remarks, says relatives making things difficult
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel