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Farooq may call it a day

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR JUNE 18. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, today hinted at quitting active politics and not contesting the coming Assembly elections. However, he said the party would decide about the Chief Ministerial candidate. He said the elections would be held in October and before that, in July, the Assembly would meet briefly for a week. The new Government had to be in office by October 13.

``I am tired and would like to stay home and see the world, with the grace of Allah. I think there is something else also to do in life than `s....y' politics,'' a visibly tired Dr. Abdullah told mediapersons at a function held at the Raj Bhavan here. Asked whether he would continue as Chief Minister for the next term he avoided a direct reply, saying ``after Omar takes over as party president on June 23, the party will decide on that in a democratic manner''. ``Ask me on June 25, I will tell you,'' he said without elaborating. Dr. Abdullah said he was not making way for his son and Union Minister, Omar Abdullah, to take over the reins of the State but was ``making way for myself''.

Asked whether Omar Abdullah would continue to be part of the Vajpayee Government, he said ``I would very much want him to devote much time here because this is the place where he has to work, but on this he has to take the decision''.

His party would continue support to the National Democratic Alliance at the Centre but would fight the elections tooth and nail against the BJP in the State. He was not upset at not being the candidate for the post of Vice-President, he said.

The autonomy issue would never be closed. Whether it was Farooq Abdullah or anyone else the Centre shall have to give autonomy to the people of Jammu and Kashmir one day and ``there is no other way out''.

He said his Government never wanted to crack down on the Hurriyat Conference leaders.

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