Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday wished everyone Eid-ul-Azha and said that I hope this Eid will bring better days for the Muslims of India and the world. However, he expressed regret over keeping the historic Jamia Mosque of Srinagar closed on the occasion of Eid and expressed ignorance about the reasons for keeping the mosque closed.
Talking to media after offering Eid namaz along with his father Dr Farooq Abdullah and other family members at Hazratbal Dargah today, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that this auspicious festival of Eid-ul-Adha will bring better days for the Muslims of India and the world. I hope it will bring peace and strengthen the bonds of brotherhood.
On the question of keeping the historic Jamia Mosque closed on the occasion of Eid, Omar Abdullah said that today when we, the Muslims of the whole world, are celebrating Eid, Namaz-e-Eid was not performed in Kashmir’s biggest and historic Jamia Mosque, it has been kept closed. I personally feel bad about it, it’s regrettable. I don’t know the reasons behind the decision to keep it closed, but we must learn to trust our people.
Omar Abdullah said that after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, the people of Kashmir were the first to raise their voice, they condemned the terrorists, and called them enemies of Islam. One day, the government will have to trust its citizens. The government should consider allowing mass prayers at the historic Jama Masjid. This will create an atmosphere of trust here.