Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abduallah has confirmed rumors that he and his wife have separated but denied speculation that he would marry again.
In a stern statement, he said, "The stories about my remarriage are completely false and concocted. It is a pity that while repeating these lies, no effort was made to ask me whether any of this is true."
"while it is 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 said making it clear that rumors about his possible second marriage either with a TV news anchor or the daughter of his father's close aide were untrue.
The couple, seen together during the elections to the trouble-torn state, were reported to have separated after his swearing-in as the state chief minister.
While his Hindu wife Payal already moved to Delhi with their two sons, reports said Abdullah avoided them during his visits to the capital, by staying with his father Farooq Abdullah at his Safdarjung residence.
Reports also said he was keen to marry a Muslim girl this time owing to political considerations but the chief minister categorically denied any such motive and added: "My family and I will not be issuing any more statements or taking any further questions about any of this."
