Kamal does U-turn, says patriotism in Abdullahs DNA
Chief minister Omar Abdullah's uncle and National Conference general secretary Mustafa Kamal, after publicly stating that India was the enemy of the Kashmiris, on Wednesday blamed the media for misquoting and went to extent of saying patriotism is in the DNA of Abdullahs'.
Chief minister Omar Abdullah's uncle and National Conference general secretary Mustafa Kamal, after publicly stating that India was the enemy of the Kashmiris, on Wednesday blamed the media for misquoting and went to extent of saying patriotism is in the DNA of Abdullahs'.
"I am pained and hurt that the media has projected me as an anti-national and accused me of sedition," said Kamal while addressing a press conference in Jammu.
Kamal, addressing a public rally in Kishtwar, about 300 km from Jammu, had said: "Pakistan had offered a no-war pact with India. Why does India not agree to it? If India carries on with such attitude, then I have no hesitation in saying that our (Kashmiris) biggest enemy is our own country, not Pakistan."
The statement had evoked sharp reaction not just across the political spectrum but even from chief minister Omar Abdullah who had tweeted: "I don't need anyone to make things difficult for me when I have relatives to do it for me."
"They say never work with animals and children. I think it's safe to add relatives to that list as well," read another tweet of the chief minister, who had gone down low considerably on the twitter.
It's not for the first time that Mustafa Kamal, who had been minister in earlier government's headed by Dr Farooq Abdullah had courted controversy with his controversial remarks.
Last year Kamal was removed from the post of party spokesperson by NC president and union minister Farooq Abdullah after he had stated that Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi had no business in the running the affairs of the state government.
The National Conference is heading the government in coalition with the Congress.
"Please don't accuse me of something that is not in my grain and blood. Abdullahs live by the legacy of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Sheikh Sahib was a great nationalist and I am proud of that legacy," said Kamal.
Kamal didn't take any question from media and in a monologue also stated that he will, henceforth, boycott participating in debates and watching a leading English news channel.