SRINAGAR: Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah faced protests at the Mata Khir Bhawani temple where he went to felicitate the minority community on the occassion of Zesctha Ashtami.
The protesters were Hindu migrants living in camps in the state’s winter capital Jammu, in valley for the festival.
They alleged indifference by the ruling National Conference government.
They said the Omar Abdullah-led government was showing no interest in rehabilitating the Hindus who left the valley at the beginning of an armed uprising against Indian rule but did not migrate to the other parts of the country.
The chief minister reportedly made a quick exit from the temple due to the protests, but he later wrote on Twitter that the visit was “excellent”. He dismissed the protesters as “a rowdy fringe element”.
“Met and interacted with a large number of pilgrims visiting Kheer Bhavani. Was fortunate to make an offering as well,” Abdullah wrote.
The chief minister also wrote that he was happy on seeing “large numbers of pilgrims coming in their own cars & taxis where earlier there convoys were given armed escorts.”
Witnesses said that a senior separatist leader, Muhammad Yasin Malik faced similar protests at the temple. Protesters demanded that Malik leave the temple, which he did.
A senior leader of the NC, Bhushan Lal Bhat has said that the protests were motivated and accused “a particular political party”, though he did not name it.
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