Thaindian News

New Delhi, April 23 (IANS) A wide grin on his face, clapping and throwing his hands in the air and moving his thickset figure to a hit Kashmiri folk number. The undated Facebook video of Farooq Abdullah is already a hit on the social networking site, but with some critical comments on the union minister who has thrice been chief minister of the trouble-torn state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Soon after being posted by Facebook user Aila Nazar, the video received some comments from other users, mostly Kashmiris. Nazar in his info says he is a Kashmiri-born Greece-based businessman.

“O(h) w(ha)t a serious (a)nd mature leader……,” wrote Kashmir Wings, sarcastically though.

In the one-minute-long poorly audible video, Abdullah is seen attending a cultural function apparently organised by the state’s information department.

As traditionally-dressed folk singers break into the “gham chhum yaar ma raavay (I am worried if I lose my lover)” song, Abdullah on a mike joins the chorus and gets right into the spirit of things. At times he sounds louder than the orginal vocalists.

Enthusiasm then gets the better of the former chief minister who shakes a leg or two in Punjabi bhangra style.

Abdullah, who is known to have once loved the company of Bollywood actresses, is a trained physician. He loves to dance and is known to often break into spontaneous singing.

The 74-year-old politician has been an heir apparent to his father late Sheikh Abdullah’s political legacy.

A great crowd puller with good oratorical skills, Abdullah, who may be loved or hated by the media, has never been ignored for whatever he does on and off the political stage.

In the short video, the father of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is wearing a long overcoat and black karakul cap - suggesting that the poor quality video may have been shot in winter. He then dances his way to his seat and is seen being patted by the participants including National Conference MP Mehboob Beg.

(Sarwar Kashani can be contacted at s.kashani@ians.in)