The Asian Age

Omar made NC working president

- AGE CORRESPOND­ENT

Union new and renewable energy minister Dr Farooq Abdullah has retained the presidency of the National Conference but named his son and Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah as the party’s working president.

The senior Abdullah told reporters that he has reorganise­d the hierarchy of the ruling party and in order to make it stronger has made his younger brother Sheikh Mustafa Kamal the additional general secretary.

Mr Kamal was given that post and also made the

–– Farooq Abdullah

NC president

chief spokespers­on of the National Conference in October 2011 but he was removed after he made statements against the Congress, which is the ruling coalition partner, and against the Army.

While Dr Abdullah’s cousin and foster brother Sheikh Nazir Ahmad will continue to be the party’s general secretary, former minister and member of Parliament Muhammad Shaffi has been made its chief spokespers­on.

Senior partyman and MLA of Kishtwar constituen­cy Sajjad Kichloo will be the NC’S spokespers­on for Jammu region, Tanvir Sadiq as spokesper-

Due to my busy schedule I’m not able to spare time for party activities. So the party has appointed Omar as working president.

son for Kashmir division and Javed Rana as vicepresid­ent of the National Conference’s GujjarBakk­erwal cell.

Explaining the urgency of these top- level changes in the party, Dr Farooq Abdullah said, “Due to my busy schedule I’m not able to spare time for party activities. So the party unanimousl­y decided to appoint Omar Abdullah as its working president.”

“He has been assigned this responsibi­lity because he stays in the state and can manage the affairs,” the National Conference president said. He added that as party president, time to time he would keep reviewing the happenings in the NC. “I’ve no plan to quit state politics and settle in the Centre. I will continue as National Conference president,” he said.

 ??  ?? Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah releases a book during a function organised to mark World Health Day 2012 in Jammu on Saturday.
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah releases a book during a function organised to mark World Health Day 2012 in Jammu on Saturday.

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