IN A rare case of a mainstream political leader calling on a separatist leader in Kashmir, National Conference (NC) MLA Tanvir Sadiq Wednesday visited Mirwaiz Umar Farooq at his residence to extend “Eid greetings”.
Posting about the visit on X, Sadiq, who is the MLA from Zadibal in Srinagar, wrote: “Called on Islamic scholar @MirwaizKashmir Umar Farooq Sahab to extend Eid Mubarak greetings and wished him good health.”
Mirwaiz confirmed the meeting, telling The Indian Express: “He dropped in for Eid greetings.”
Customary visits for Eid greetings are common in the Valley, but not between leaders representing mainstream and separatist political streams.
Since the NC came to power after a landslide victory in Jammu and Kashmir, Sadiq is the second leader of the party to meet Mirwaiz. In February, senior NC leader and MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi had met the Valley’s chief cleric and Hurriyat leader during the latter’s visit to New Delhi. Incidentally, both Sadiq and Mehdi are prominent Shia leaders, while Mirwaiz’s residence Nageen falls in Sadiq’s Assembly constituency.
Ruhullah had described his meeting with Mirwaiz as an attempt to “discuss and develop a broader consensus on the (Centre’s) Waqf Bill amendments”, while adding, “other issues do come up during meetings and they were also discussed on the sidelines”.
Sadiq, who is the NC chief spokesperson, is considered close to party vice-president and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. He was Omar’s political secretary during his previous stint as CM, and in 2018, when the NC was in the Opposition, was appointed political advisor to Omar.
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The son of an NC leader, Sadiq started his political career as a member of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation. He tried twice to win mayoral elections but lost.
The NC played down the meeting between Sadiq and Mirwaiz. “It was just a customary visit for exchanging Eid greetings and nothing beyond that,” NC spokesperson Imran Nabi told The Indian Express.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
