Farooq Abdullah (born 1937)

Farooq Abdullah is a prominent Indian politician, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, and the current Member of Parliament from Srinagar constituency. He was born on October 21, 1937, in Soura, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India, to Sheikh Abdullah and Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah.

Farooq Abdullah completed his early education at the Burn Hall School in Srinagar and went on to graduate in medicine from SMS Medical College in Jaipur, Rajasthan. However, he decided to pursue a career in politics and joined the National Conference Party, which was founded by his father, Sheikh Abdullah.

Political Career:

Farooq Abdullah's political career began in 1980 when he was elected to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament, from the Srinagar constituency. In 1981, he was appointed as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, a position he held until 1984. He was re-elected as the Chief Minister in 1986 and served until 1990.

During his tenure as the Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah worked towards the development of Jammu and Kashmir and implemented several welfare measures for the people. He also took initiatives to improve the state's economy and infrastructure, including the development of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

In 1996, Farooq Abdullah was again elected to the Lok Sabha, and he continued to represent the Srinagar constituency until 1998. He was re-elected to the Lok Sabha in 1999 and 2004.

In 2008, Farooq Abdullah was appointed as the President of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, the political party founded by his father. In the 2009 Indian general election, he was again elected to the Lok Sabha from the Srinagar constituency. He was also appointed as the Minister of New and Renewable Energy in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government led by Manmohan Singh.

In 2014, Farooq Abdullah was defeated in the Lok Sabha election by Tariq Hameed Karra, a candidate from the People's Democratic Party. However, in 2017, he won the Srinagar by-election and was again elected to the Lok Sabha.

Controversies:

Farooq Abdullah has been involved in several controversies throughout his political career. In 1996, he was accused of rigging the state assembly elections, which led to widespread protests in Jammu and Kashmir. In 2002, he was accused of making anti-India remarks during a speech in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.

In 2016, Farooq Abdullah made controversial remarks on the issue of Kashmiri separatism, stating that "Kashmiri youth are sacrificing their lives to secure a better future for themselves." His comments were widely criticized, and he was accused of promoting secessionism and anti-India sentiments.

Personal Life:

Farooq Abdullah is married to Molly Abdullah, and they have one son, Omar Abdullah, who is also a prominent Indian politician and a former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Farooq Abdullah is known for his love for sports, particularly cricket, and he has served as the President of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association.

Conclusion:

Farooq Abdullah is one of the most prominent politicians from Jammu and Kashmir and has had a long and eventful political career. He has served as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on multiple occasions and has also represented the Srinagar constituency in the Lok Sabha several times. While he has been involved in controversies, he remains a respected political figure in India and continues to play an important role in Jammu and Kashmir politics.