Srinagar Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said that a casual morning walk at Srinagar’s Tulip Garden has been unnecessarily politicised, even echoing in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
In a post on social media platform X, Rijiju, as per news agency JKNS, shared a video of his early morning walk at the famed Tulip Garden and wrote, “A beautiful morning walk became a political discussion, echoed even in J&K Assembly too!”
Rijiju said he briefly met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and National Conference Patron Farooq Abdullah during his visit. “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!” he wrote.
The Union Minister added, “Let’s enjoy the beauty of Kashmir beyond politics!”
The remarks came a day after the opposition PDP and other parties criticised Omar Abdullah over a widely circulated photograph showing him alongside Rijiju during the Tulip Garden visit. The photo had triggered political backlash and was raised in the Assembly, prompting Omar to clarify that it was an unplanned encounter. (JKNS)
