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Key Points

Farooq Abdullah visited the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine after his first trip on the Vande Bharat train. He expressed hope that prayers for peace and progress would be fulfilled. The NC leader stayed overnight at the shrine and walked several kilometers to reach it. He hailed the new train service as transformative for Kashmir’s economy and tourism.

Key Points: Farooq Abdullah Visits Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine After Vande Bharat Ride

  • Farooq Abdullah takes maiden Vande Bharat ride to Katra
  • Offers prayers at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine overnight
  • Praises train service as a game-changer for Kashmir
  • Accompanied by grandsons and NC leaders
2 min read

Dr Farooq Abdullah pays obeisance at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine after spending night there

NC President Farooq Abdullah offers prayers at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, praises Vande Bharat train for boosting Kashmir connectivity and tourism.

"I had a great darshan and I am hopeful that all our prayers for peace, progress and brotherhood will be answered. – Dr. Farooq Abdullah"

Jammu, June 11

Before returning to Srinagar on the Vande Bharat train on Wednesday, former Chief Minister and ruling National Conference (NC) President, Dr Farooq Abdullah paid obeisance at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K) Reasi district.

Jammu, June 11 (IANS) Before returning to Srinagar on the Vande Bharat train on Wednesday, former Chief Minister and ruling National Conference (NC) President, Dr Farooq Abdullah paid obeisance at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K) Reasi district. Talking to reporters on Wednesday, Dr Farooq said, “I had a great 'darshan' and I am hopeful that all our prayers for peace, progress and brotherhood at the shrine will be answered so that we can move forward and our country also marches ahead and we become part of its development trajectory.”

On Tuesday, the 87-year-old NC President took his maiden ride from Srinagar to Katra town on the Vande Bharat train, which connects Kashmir to the rest of the country.

Dr Farooq stayed at the sanctum sanctorum of Mata Vaishno Devi shrine overnight and took part in special prayers there.

He was accompanied by his grandsons, Zamir and Zahid.

J&K minister, Satish Sharma and CM Omar Abdullah's advisor, Nasir Aslam Wani and several NC legislators, including party chief spokesperson, Tanvir Sadiq accompanied the NC President during his train journey.

Asked about his overnight stay at the shrine, Dr Farooq said, "I felt very happy.”

Satish Sharma, who accompanied Dr Farooq said, "We had darshan thrice after reaching the holy town of Katra, which is a great blessing for us.

“Dr Abdullah walked two to three kilometres to reach the shrine and we prayed for J&K to get back its lost glory. J&K is India's crown and we want to reach that height again.”

Later, Dr Farooq Abdullah returned to Srinagar through the Vande Bharat Express after an overnight stay at the shrine in Katra.

Dr Farooq Abdullah described the arrival of the train service to Kashmir Valley as a game changer that will benefit tourism, horticulture and the economy of the Valley.

He said people would no longer be "fleeced by the airlines by hiking fares each time the Jammu-Srinagar highway got closed" like it used to happen in the past.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Heartwarming to see political leaders visiting holy shrines and promoting unity. Mata Vaishno Devi is truly special - visited last year and the spiritual energy there is unmatched. Hope Dr. Abdullah's prayers for peace in J&K are answered soon. 🙏
P
Priya M.
While I respect his devotion, I wish political leaders would focus more on governance than religious symbolism. The Vande Bharat train is a great development though - infrastructure projects like this will truly unite our country.
A
Amit S.
Good to see Kashmir's leaders embracing India's development projects. The Vande Bharat train is a game changer indeed! More connectivity means more opportunities for local businesses and tourism. Jai Hind!
S
Sunita R.
At 87 years old, walking 2-3 km to the shrine is impressive! Shows true devotion. The pictures of him with his grandsons are so wholesome. Family bonding during pilgrimages is what makes our culture special.
V
Vikram J.
The railway connectivity to Kashmir is long overdue. But why only focus on Katra? We need better rail links to other parts of J&K too. Hope this is just the beginning of infrastructure development in the region.
N
Neha P.
The mention of not being fleeced by airlines is so true! Highway closures used to make travel so expensive. Now middle-class families can plan pilgrimages without worrying about last-minute airfare hikes. Progress! 😊

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