‘Hope PM does not succumb to any pressure, sends chadar to Ajmer dargah’: J&K CM Omar Abdullah – Times of India

J&K CM Omar Abdullah and PM Modi (R)

NEW DELHI: NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah expressed hope on Thursday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not be affected by pressure from any quarters and continue his yearly tradition of sending “chadar” to the Ajmer Sharif dargah.
“You cannot separate religion from politics. We say that there should be a separation of the church from the state, but that does not happen. Votes are being sought in the name of religion, politics is done in the name of religion. This is a reality that we should accept. However, I hope that the prime minister does not succumb to any pressure and sends a chadar to Ajmer,” Abdullah told reporters.
He pointed out that the sentiments of people from various communities are deeply connected to the Ajmer Sharif Dargah.
“It is not that just the people of particular religion visit the Ajmer dargah. While Muslims go there, many non-Muslims also visit the dargah. The sentiments of many people are attached to it,” J&K CM said.
He also welcomed the Supreme Court’s intervention on communal disputes, saying, “Thankfully, the Supreme Court has put a stop to people trying to look for temples underneath mosques. When the court comes to an overall decision, that will be binding on everyone.”
Responding to speculation about his change in dressing style, Abdullah dismissed the notion that it was meant to assert his Muslim identity. “I do not open my cupboard in the morning thinking what will I wear that day or with an aim of sending out a message. I should think (what to wear) because sometimes I get into trouble,” J&K CM said.
“I wear a Sozni cap because it is part of my heritage. I wore a pagdi in Jammu because of my respect for all cultures. It does not weaken my faith. If there is a message going out, I am not doing it on purpose. I wear this cap because it suits me and keeps my head warm as my hairline is receding. I tried to put on a Karakul cap but that does not suit me,” he added further.
Earlier, it was announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would hand over a ceremonial “chadar” to Union minister Kiren Rijiju and BJP Minority Morcha president Jamal Siddiqui to be offered at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah on the occasion of the Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
Since taking office, PM Modi has continued this tradition annually, with this being the 11th consecutive year of his participation.