Juxtaposing the remarks by father-son duo of Kashmir's first family on the division of their political territories has set the tongues wagging in Jammu and Kashmir.
While National Conference president and union minister Farooq Abdullah has explicitly expressed his desire to return to state politics, his son Omar Abdullah, chief minister of J&K, has categorically refused to replace him at the centre.
Farooq wants to return to J&K given his old age and ill health. However, Omar said other than shifting to Delhi, he would obey his father on all counts.
"You are my father. If you (Farooq) tell me to jump, I will only ask how high? But please don't tell me to jump to Delhi..."Omar told his father during a workers convention in central Kashmir's Budgam district.
Omar emphasised "I am sorry but I have finished my three-year stint in Delhi. I have no desire to go back to centre. I am with my people. I am not going."
The J&K chief minister added that he wanted to be part of NC (National Conference) II, III, IV... and not UPA III, IV.... "I am part of NC I and will remain part of NC II, III, IV, V et al. I have to work here", he said.
The main Opposition, People's Democratic Party, however said Farooq has sensed defeat and is exploring alternative job avenues for himself and his son.
"I am sure that the emancipated people of Kashmir won't now get carried away by the emotive and propagandist rhetoric of NC leaders and would look for alternative representatives who can serve them
better," said Tariq Hameed Karra, senior PDP leader who will contest against Farooq from Srinagar.
The fathers-son remarks have reignited the old debate of division of their political territories in J&K. Before 2008 assembly elections, NC had projected Farooq as the chief ministerial candidate but post polls, they chose Omar Abdullah to be the chief minister.
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