Farooq Abdullah visits Iranian embassy to express grief on Khamenei's demise
Srinagar, March 10
National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday visited the Iranian embassy in New Delhi and signed the condolence book on the demise of Iranian supreme leader, Ayatullah Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli air strikes on Tehran.
NC spokesperson said, "Dr. Farooq Abdullah, President of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, today visited the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi and signed the condolence book on the martyrdom of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Spiritual and Supreme Leader of Iran and conveyed heartfelt sympathies and condolences on behalf of the people of Jammu and Kashmir."
Former CM Abdullah was accompanied by MPs from the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo and Gurwinder Singh Oberoi.
The delegation also met the Deputy Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to India and expressed solidarity with the people of Iran in this hour of grief and prayed for eternal peace for the departed soul, the NC spokesperson said.
On Monday, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti also visited the Iranian embassy to express grief on the martyrdom of the Iranian supreme leader.
Kashmir Valley was rocked with protests immediately after the killing of Ayatullah Ali Khamenei reached here.
Shia Muslim in the Valley carried out protests against the US-Israeli air strikes on Iran and the killing of the Iranian leader.
Sunni Muslims also joined protests in Kashmir Valley and the authorities had to impose restrictions for seven days from March 1 to March 8 to maintain law and order in the Valley.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had interacted with religious, social, political and business community members of Kashmir civil society in Srinagar.
Omar appealed to people to express grief in a disciplined and dignified manner without creating a law and order situation.
The Chief Minister had got a positive response from the civil society members and this interaction went a long way in bringing the situation back to normal in the Valley,
— IANS
Reader Comments
Expressing condolences is a basic human and diplomatic courtesy. Dr. Abdullah is a senior political figure and former CM; his actions represent a gesture of sympathy from the people of J&K. We should not read too much into it. The world is interconnected, and such courtesies matter. 🤝
The article mentions protests in the Valley. This is worrying. External events should not disrupt peace in our country. Kudos to CM Omar Abdullah for engaging with civil society to calm things down. Internal harmony is paramount.
While I respect the right to protest, the seven-day restrictions show how volatile the situation can become. India has a significant Shia population, and their sentiments are important. However, the government's priority must always be maintaining law and order. A delicate balance is needed.
Interesting to see both NC and PDP leaders paying respects. It highlights the geopolitical and religious dimensions of Kashmir. As an observer, I hope such actions are purely about condolence and don't get entangled in larger proxy dynamics. India's stance should be clear and independent.
The delegation included MPs from different communities, which is a good sign of unity. But honestly, as a common citizen, I'm more concerned about inflation and jobs than foreign leaders. Our politicians should focus their energy here first. 🙏
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.