Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah nominated former Corporator of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Tanvir Sadiq as National Conference (NC) new spokesman.
There has been virtually no media interaction on part of NC compared to its arch rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Till recently, Omar’s tweets were the only window to his party.
But thirty-three-year old Sadiq promises to change that as he vows to be available round the clock for any media queries and would hold at least one media briefing a week.
Hailing from a well known politico-business family of Srinagar, Sadiq’s father a veteran political figure and legislator was also treasurer for the NC for over two decades. The father son duo had joined PDP and Tanvir was PDP corporator.
Fluent in English and Urdu, Sadiq is an alumni of Burn Hall and Biscoe. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Orissa University. In 2010, he studied information technology and management at New York’s PMI Institute. Sadiq who is among the youngest to get such a sensitive post admitted that there was disconnect between the NC and the media. “I will try to change that. That is why the party has selected me. I have the support of senior party colleagues,” he told media persons during his first interaction.
A staunch supporter of Omar Abdullah, Sadiq said he was feeling on top of the world to have been given such a prestigious charge.
Though much younger than his predecessor, Sadiq flaunts his greying hair happily like Omar whom he admires. “My grey hair is natural, but if people say I am imitating the CM, I have no problem,” he said during his interaction with the media. “Omar Abdullah is the best thing that has happened to Jammu and Kashmir and I am one among his lakhs of admirers,” he added.
Sadiq replaced the controversial Dr Mustafa Kamal, who was divested of his post last year for a comment against Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi. Kamal had said Rahul Gandhi “has no role in running the Jammu and Kashmir government”. He had also kicked up a row by saying “the finger of suspicion points towards the army as well” after the multiple grenade attacks in Srinagar last October.
Before Kamal, it was Abdul Rahim Rather who was in charge of handling media as party’s official spokesman. He wasn’t controversial, but was hardly available for any media interactions.
