Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Wednesday that the National Conference will proceed with its plan to protest the delay in restoring statehood in Delhi, despite the recent death of his uncle, Sheikh Mustafa Kamal.Abdullah earlier announced a fresh phase of protests beginning July 20 against the Centre in the national capital over the "unexplained delay" in restoring statehood to the Union territory.
"There will be no change in that," Abdullah told reporters after visiting his uncle's residence to pay condolences. His uncle was also the additional general secretary of the National Conference.
Abdullah said his uncle would not have wanted the party to change the programme.
"Kamal sahib would not have wanted any change in that. His health condition deteriorated on July 11, and the doctors told us that he might not survive that day. Still, party president Farooq Abdullah directed us that whatever happens to Kamal, the party will continue with its July 12 programme (in Jammu). So, since we were not ready to cancel the July 12 programme, this (protest in Delhi) will definitely go on," he said.
When asked whether the party had received permission for the July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, the chief minister said no permission had been granted yet."Not yet. We have been kept waiting. As I have stated, we know how to keep patience," he said.
Abdullah said if permission at Jantar Mantar is denied, the party will keep an alternate plan ready for the protest. "We will wait, and we will also keep our alternate plan ready. I have told my colleagues who expressed apprehensions about the permission that we will definitely go to Delhi on July 19. If we do not get permission for Jantar Mantar, we will sit and discuss there what to do. But we will leave for Delhi on July 19," he said.
Describing his uncle's death as a very difficult time for the family and the party, Abdullah said, apart from being his father's younger brother, Kamal had his own standing.
"He was an able doctor who treated poor patients all his life. Even when he was the Health Minister of J-K, he did not close his free clinic in Tangmarg and continued visiting there every week to treat the poor in the area," he said.
Reflecting on the departed leader's political career, Abdullah said Kamal first became an MLC and then an MLA in 1986. In 1997, Kamal was re-elected from the Tangmarg constituency, and subsequently won by-elections twice from Pattan and once from Hazratbal in 2009, he said.
The Chief Minister said Kamal touched the lives of many people in Kashmir throughout his life. "Such a huge number of people gathering here tells you that Kamal touched many people in his life, which we realise and we are thankful for that," he said.