Kiren Rijiju, Omar Abdullah's 'refreshing' stroll in Srinagar's tulip garden amid Waqf Act row enrages opposition in J&K

A political storm has broken out in Jammu and Kashmir after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his father, National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah, were seen walking with Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju in Srinagar’s well-known tulip garden. The meeting drew sharp criticism as Rijiju recently led the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 in Parliament.

 

Opposition leaders criticised the Abdullahs for appearing friendly with Rijiju. Sajad Gani Lone, leader of the People's Conference, said the chief minister should have stayed away from the Union minister as a sign of protest.

 

“At the very least, Muslims in India expected that the leader of J&K—the country’s only Muslim-majority region—would keep his distance from the man behind the Waqf Bill. Instead, he walked alongside him and Farooq Sahib. It’s disgraceful,” Lone posted on social media.

 

The People's Democratic Party (PDP) also condemned the Abdullahs. Senior leader Naeem Akhtar accused them of showing a “romantic” disregard for public concerns, while PDP youth president Waheed Para said the National Conference had let down the region. “Their silence on the Waqf Bill says it all. NC legislators stage token protests, yet the chief minister and party patron warmly welcome the very minister who introduced the Bill,” Para stated.

 

Rijiju, who was in Srinagar to attend the Lok Samvardhan Parv at Kashmir University, shared photos of the walk online, calling it “refreshing” and full of “warmth and vision.” The images showed the three men talking and smiling among the blooming tulips.

 

When the assembly resumed proceedings after 12 days on Monday, opposition MLAs from the NC, PDP, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) clashed with the speaker in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly after their attempts to discuss the Waqf Act were blocked. Their motions were rejected, and the speaker had to adjourn the House twice due to the uproar.

 

The Abdullahs have not yet responded to the criticism. However, the incident has deepened political tensions, with opposition parties accusing the National Conference of failing to stand up for the interests of Jammu and Kashmir’s Muslim-majority population.

India