Had chance meeting with Omar, Farooq at Tulip Garden: Rijiju

Trying to clarify the controversy surrounding his meeting with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his father Farooq Abdullah at the Tulip Garden, Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday stated the interaction was just a coincidence.

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“A beautiful morning walk became a political discussion, echoed even in J&K Assembly too! I briefly came across CM, Omar Abdullah sahab and Farooq Abdullah sahab at the Tulip Garden on early morning visit to avoid inconvenience for the visitors & tourists at daytime. “We exchanged pleasantries! Let’s enjoy the beauty of Kashmir beyond politics!” Rijiju posted on his X handle.

The opposition parties in the Union Territory lambasted the Abdullahs over their chance meeting with Rijiju, saying the ruling National Conference had rolled out the red carpet for the “architect of anti-Muslim amendments” to the Waqf (Amendment) Act. Rijiju had moved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in both Houses of Parliament in the recently concluded Budget Session.

The issue reverberated in J&K Legislative Assembly on Tuesday when PDP MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Para, while demanding a resolution against the Waqf law, questioned the absence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah from the House for the second day.

Para said, “He (Omar) should have been here because this issue concerns Muslim properties like mosques, shrines and graveyards... He is giving a red carpet welcome to Union Minister Kiren Rijiju in the Tulip Garden.”