Srinagar, July 14: Veteran National Conference leader Mustafa Kamal, brother of three-time Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah, died on Tuesday after a prolonged illness. He was 83.
Kamal, a former J&K minister and uncle of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, breathed his last at a private hospital here around 5 pm.
Kamal, the younger brother of Farooq Abdullah, was not married.
He was the NC’s additional general secretary.
“My father’s younger brother Dr Mustafa Kamal passed away earlier this evening at Paras hospital in Srinagar. Uncle Mustafa had been unwell for some months but took a turn for the worse 4 days ago. “He put up a brave fight holding on against the odds. The doctors & staff treating him were amazing but Allah called him for his final journey. May Allah grant uncle Mustafa the highest place in Jannat,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah posted on X.
Kamal served as a minister in the J&K government led by Farooq Abdullah in 1983, 1987 and 1996.
Before taking the political plunge, Kamal, who obtained an MBBS degree from Sawai Man Singh Medical College in Jaipur in 1962, worked as a general physician in Tangmarg, near Gulmarg, in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
His legislative career began with the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council, where he served from 1983 to 1987.
He was elected from the Gulmarg constituency on the party’s ticket, defeating rival Ghulam Hassan Mir in 1987 and continued to represent the constituency till 2002.
Throughout this period, Kamal held various high-profile cabinet portfolios across multiple state administrations, specifically serving as a minister in the governments formed in 1983, 1987, and 1996.
He also served as the party spokesperson and was often vocal about issues concerning J&K especially about the special status that was abrogated by the Centre in 2019.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has expressed grief over the sad demise of veteran political leader Dr. Mustafa Kamal.
In a condolence message, the Lieutenant Governor said: "I am deeply saddened by the news of veteran leader Dr. Mustafa Kamal's passing away. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, well-wishers, and admirers. Om Shanti!"
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, ministers, opposition PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, J&K Apni Paty president Altaf Bukhari, former J&K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad have condoled Kamal’s demise.