Farooq Abdullah
Encyclopedia
Farooq Abdullah, فاروق عبدالله (Nastaleeq)), born 21 October 1937 in Soura
, Jammu & Kashmir, India
), is the son of Sheikh Abdullah, is a doctor of medicine and has served as chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir
on several occasions since 1982. He is married to Molly, a nurse of British origin. Their son, Omar Abdullah
is also involved in state and national politics, and has been a member of the Lok Sabha
and is the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Abdullah was a novice in the political arena of Jammu and Kashmir when he was appointed president of the National Conference
in August, 1981. His main qualification was that he was the son and heir of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
leader Sheikh Abdullah. After his father's death in 1982, Farooq Abdullah became the Chief Minister of the state. In 1984, the Abdullah government was dismissed by the Governor and replaced with a pro-Congress government under Ghulam Mohammad Shah
. In 1986, that government was dismissed and a new National Conference–Congress government was sworn in with Abdullah as the Chief Minister. A new election was held in 1987 and the National Conference–Congress alliance won the election amid allegations of fraud. This period saw a rise in militancy in the state, with the return of trained militants from Pakistan and incidents that included the kidnapping of the daughter of the Union Home Minister. Subsequently, the Abdullah government was dismissed once again and the state was brought under President's rule
. In 1996, Abdullah was once again sworn in as Chief Minister of the state, his fifth time.
In 2002, Abdullah was elected to Rajya Sabha from Jammu and Kashmir for his first six year term. He was subsequently re-elected in 2009. Abdullah joined the United Progressive Alliance
government as a Cabinet Minister.
Soura
Soura is a village located about 12 km from Lal Chowk on Srinagar-Ladakh Highway. Soura is famous for SKIMS Hospital, a multi-speciality hospital. Farooq Abdullah's Ancestorial house is also in Soura. Soura is located near Anchar Lake....
, Jammu & Kashmir, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
), is the son of Sheikh Abdullah, is a doctor of medicine and has served as chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
on several occasions since 1982. He is married to Molly, a nurse of British origin. Their son, Omar Abdullah
Omar Abdullah
Omar Abdullah , born 10 March 1970 in United Kingdom, is an Indian Kashmiri politician and the scion of Kashmir's 'first family', the Abdullah family who became the 11th and the youngest Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir after forming a government in coalition with the Congress party, on...
is also involved in state and national politics, and has been a member of the Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
and is the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Abdullah was a novice in the political arena of Jammu and Kashmir when he was appointed president of the National Conference
National Conference
National Conference may refer to:In India:*Jammu & Kashmir National Conference, the largest political party in Jammu and Kashmir, India.*Manipur National Conference, a political party in the Indian state of Manipur that was formed in 2002....
in August, 1981. His main qualification was that he was the son and heir of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
The Jammu & Kashmir National Conference is a State political party in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Led at the time of Indian Independence in 1947 by Sheikh Abdullah, it dominated electoral politics in the state for many decades...
leader Sheikh Abdullah. After his father's death in 1982, Farooq Abdullah became the Chief Minister of the state. In 1984, the Abdullah government was dismissed by the Governor and replaced with a pro-Congress government under Ghulam Mohammad Shah
Ghulam Mohammad Shah
Ghulam Mohammad Shah or G.M. Shah was an Indian politician who was Chief Minister of the state of Jammu and Kashmir from 2 July 1984 to 6 March 1986. He succeeded his brother-in-law Farooq Abdullah...
. In 1986, that government was dismissed and a new National Conference–Congress government was sworn in with Abdullah as the Chief Minister. A new election was held in 1987 and the National Conference–Congress alliance won the election amid allegations of fraud. This period saw a rise in militancy in the state, with the return of trained militants from Pakistan and incidents that included the kidnapping of the daughter of the Union Home Minister. Subsequently, the Abdullah government was dismissed once again and the state was brought under President's rule
President's rule
President's rule is the term used in India when a state legislature is dissolved or suspended and the state is placed under direct federal rule...
. In 1996, Abdullah was once again sworn in as Chief Minister of the state, his fifth time.
In 2002, Abdullah was elected to Rajya Sabha from Jammu and Kashmir for his first six year term. He was subsequently re-elected in 2009. Abdullah joined the United Progressive Alliance
United Progressive Alliance
The United Progressive Alliance is a ruling coalition of center-left political parties heading the government of India. The coalition is led by the Indian National Congress , which is currently the single largest political party in the Lok Sabha...
government as a Cabinet Minister.