Omar Abdullah welcomes Prime Minister’s visit, says Diwali better than Id

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has welcomed Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s, decision to celebrate Diwali with the flood sufferers of Srinagar later this week.

“I appreciate the gesture of the Prime Minister to mark Diwali by spending it with the flood affected people of J&K in Srinagar, the worst hit,” Mr Abdullah said. “I also hope that he will accept our good wishes as the only gift we can give while gifting us the acceptance of our package,” he tweeted.

As Mr Modi is choosing Diwali instead of recently celebrated Eid-ul-Azha to be with the victims of the deluge given the fact the Valley including Srinagar has a Muslim majority, Mr Abdullah also tweeted, “The people asking why Diwali and why not Eid (sic) would’ve been the same people cursing because of the restrictions caused by hartal/security.”

He also said, “Let’s just appreciate that @narendramodi is in Srinagar on his festival & not at home celebrating as he normally would have been doing.”