Dr. Mustafa Kamaal Resigns From Party Posts

Srinagar: Dr. Mustafa Kamaal, who was asked to resign from party posts by his brother and president of the National Conference Dr. Farooq Abdullah, has resigned, party sources said here on Friday.

Bowing under the persistent pressure from the Congress-coalition partner in the ruling alliance – Abdullah Thursday asked Kamaal to resign “immediately” as the Additional General Secretary and Chief spokesman of the party.

Party sources said Kamaal submitted his resignation from both posts this afternoon.

Abdullah said he had to take the “difficult decision” because Kamaal has been making certain statements which are not in tandem with the policies of the National Conference and are against the “Coalition Dharma”.

He said the party was committed to the National Conference – Congress coalition government and its smooth functioning. “Any indiscipline in this regard within the National Conference will not be tolerated,” he added.

On 3rd of November, Farooq asked Kamaal to exercise restraint and follow the party policy line on all issues particularly those pertaining to the policies of the coalition government, relationship with the Congress party, AFSPA and the role of the Army.

Abdullah’s remarks had come a day after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah regretted the statements by his maternal uncle and Dr Mustafa Kamaal. The Chief Minister said these statements that put him in a ‘terrible position.’

Congress has been gunning for Kamaal after his recent statements particularly after the twin grenade blasts in Srinagar in which he pointed the finger of suspicion towards the Army, vehemently opposing the revocation of AFSPA from certain parts of the Valley.

Syed Irfan Aziz, from Sopore, a small town in North Kashmir, India, is currently Executive Editor of the Daily English newspaper INSIDE KASHMIR and is a freelance News Producer in electronic media.