Padma to ex-militant divides J&K’s first political family

The Padma awards controversy has brought out the differences between chief minister Omar Abdullah and his father and Union minister for new and renewable energy Farooq Abdullah out in the open.

While Omar denied recommending top counter-insurgent Ghulam Mohammad Mir alias Moma Kana’s name for Padma Shri, the senior Abdullah admitted that he had recommended the former terrorist’s name for the prestigious award.

“No recommendation from the state had gone for this person. Someone might have recommended it on a personal level,” Omar said. Farooq, who is also the president of the ruling National Conference, admitted that he had recommended Mir’s name for the award. “Yes, I recommended his name for Padma Shri. What is wrong with it? Omar has nothing to do with it. Omar has not done anything,” he said.

Mir (60) defended his nomination saying he had helped in apprehending or neutralising around 5,000 militants in Kashmir. “My brother and nephew were killed in cold blood. My son was shot at. I have suffered a lot for the country,” he said.