Barely three days after calling India the state’s “biggest enemy”, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah’s uncle Mustafa Kamal made a U-turn, saying he was misquoted.
“I am pained and hurt that the media has projected me as an anti-national and accused me of sedition. It deeply hurts me that what I said has been blown out of context,” the additional general secretary of the ruling National Conference said at a press meet in Jammu on Wednesday.
Calling himself and the Abdullah clan a family of nationalists, Kamal, the younger brother of NC president Farooq Abdullah, added, “For heaven’s sake, 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. Sheikh Sahib was a great nationalist and I am proud of that legacy.”
“I have great regard for my country India and the Indian National Congress and shall never ever work against the two. It is beyond my comprehension to do so.”
Addressing a public meeting in Jammu’s Kishtwar division on Sunday, Kamal had accused India of rejecting a no-war pact with Pakistan and the army of being hurdle in the return of peace in Jammu and Kashmir. He drew flak after he was reported as saying that if India continued its stubborn attitude, “it will be our biggest enemy”.
The CM immediately tore into his uncle on microblogging site Twitter. A combination of tweets read, “Funny thing I don’t need anyone to make things difficult for me for me when I have relatives to do it for me. They say never work with animals & children. I think it’s safe to add relatives to that list as well.”
{{/usCountry}}The CM immediately tore into his uncle on microblogging site Twitter. A combination of tweets read, “Funny thing I don’t need anyone to make things difficult for me for me when I have relatives to do it for me. They say never work with animals & children. I think it’s safe to add relatives to that list as well.”
{{/usCountry}}Kamal said, “I had suggested that India and Pakistan sit together and settle the issue amicably because it affects the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”