news details |
|
|
| Omar confirms separation with wife | | Dismisses 'rumours' about remarriage | | Srinagar, Sept 15:
What was just part of the gossip doings rounds for some time has now been confirmed by Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah himself. Reacting to media reports Abdullah on Thursday confirmed separation from his wife Payal Abdullah . He , in the same breath has requested media for `space and privacy'.
In a statement he said the media reports about his separation were true however expressed "anguish about the speculations about his private life". Abdullah also dismissed rumours about his second marriage. Abdullah had married Payal Nath, daughter of an Army officer, Major General Ram Nath from Delhi on September 1, 1994. The couple has two sons, Zahir (13) and Zamir (11).
"I have noted with considerable dismay and anguish the growing tide of speculation in the media about my private life particularly the status of my marriage," said Abdullah.
"While its true my wife and I have separated the speculation about motives and about my future course of action are unfounded, untrue and deeply hurtful to all concerned," he added.
Stories about the chief minister's separation and his alleged relationship with a `high profile Delhi based media person' and a politician's relative have been surfacing in various sections of the media for last one month. The rumours were fueled by Payal Abdullah's absence from various social and political do's including the Independence Day functions.
Sources close to the family reveal that the couple has been living separately for over a year and have agreed on a divorce with mutual consent. However, in the statement Abdullah has denied rumours of his remarriage.
"The stories about my remarriage are completely false and concocted," he added. Abdullah also requested media for 'space and privacy'. "The media in India has a well established, undeclared, code of conduct that keeps the private lives of public figures by and large private. I believe my family and I am entitled to that privacy," the statement added.
"At this point my concern has to and will remain my young sons who do not deserve to see themselves splashed across the news channels and pages of newspapers in this manner," the CM added.
Abdullahs were one of the few multi-religious, political families of India - tied to other communities through marriage. While Omar Abdullah's father Farooq Abdullah is married Molly Abdullah who shifted to London after militancy broke out in Kashmir, younger sister Sarah married Sachin Pilot-union minister and son of Congress stalwart Rajesh Pilot. His other sibling, Hinna (Collins) who lives in London is also reported to have separated from her Christian husband.
Omar Abdullah had fallen in love and married Payal while the couple were working in a five star hotel chain in Delhi. Although the marriage got consent of the family, Payal's refusal to convert didn't go down well with his grandmother, Begam Abdullah. When Omar and Payal moved out of Farooq's Gupkar residence in 2002 there were rumoursabout Payal's differences with the other family members especially father in law Farooq and Omar's sisters.
The differences also surfaced after National conference won the elections. Farooq had on many occasions suggested that he was the chief ministerial candidate but family including Payal had insisted on a generation shift.
"Payal and Farooq emerged as two power centres and she was not liked by party's old guard," said a source close to the family. Omar Abdullah has been living separately in a house, a few blocks away from Farooq's Gupkar Road residence in Srinagar.
Payal and his sons continued to live in Delhi, where his children go to school. Omar Abdullah would regularly take time off to spend time with his family in Delhi. However, over the past few months he has been avoiding the couple's Akbar Road residence during the course of his visits to Delhi, preferring instead to stay at Farooq Abdullah's Safdarjung residence, or at Jammu and Kashmir House.a
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
