The Congress-Omar Abdullah back-and-forth over the full rendition of Vande Mataram in Jammu and Kashmir intensified on Friday, with the party’s J&K chief describing the chief minister’s comment on the row as “detached from reality”.
The full version of the national song was recently played at an event in Jammu and Kashmir, prompting objections from the Congress, which advised Abdullah to stick to just the first two paragraphs. The National Conference leader, however, rejected the advice, pointing out that the full rendition of Vande Mataram at official events is mandatory under the law, and violations can attract punitive action. “Does Congress want Kashmiris to be thrown in jail on this issue?
Abdullah said.
“How did the people of Jammu & Kashmir come into the picture when our expectations were clearly and exclusively from the government of Jammu & Kashmir? The public has nothing to do with this debate. Asking two-pointed questions to the chief minister, he asked: “Did a single person in Kerala go to jail when its government chose to sing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram at the Independence Day parade? It is the government that is expected to stand upright,” Karra, who is also a legislator from Central Shalteng, wrote on X.
“Omar Abdullah Sahib’s comment is detached from reality and therefore highly unfortunate.
The J&K Congress chief, Tariq Hameed Karra, reacted to his ally’s curt remark, saying he expected the government of Jammu and Kashmir to “stand upright”. It is the government that is expected to stand upright,” Karra said. Earlier reporting noted: ‘Detached from reality’: J&K Congress chief hits back at Omar over Vande Mataram row A day after Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah criticised Congress over the Vande Mataram issue, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Karra hit back, saying “Omar Abdullah is detached from reality”.
Earlier reporting noted: The CM had questioned the Congress, asking if they wanted Kashmiris to go to jail for opposing the full stanzas of Vande Mataram, which was played during a film festival where both the CM, National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah and other ministers stood up till the full version was played. Earlier reporting noted: JKPCC president termed CM’s remarks as ‘unfortunate’.
