Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju addressed the growing controversy regarding his recent encounter with Jammu and Kashmir Chief MinisterOmar Abdullah and his father Farooq Abdullah at the renowned Tulip Garden in Srinagar. Rijiju maintained that the meeting was purely coincidental and had no political undertones.

Taking to his official handle on the social media platform X, Rijiju shared his side of the story:

“A beautiful morning walk became a political discussion, echoed even in the J&K Assembly too! I briefly came across CM, Omar Abdullah Sahab, and Farooq Abdullah Sahab at the Tulip Garden on an early morning visit to avoid inconveniencing the visitors & tourists at daytime. We exchanged pleasantries! Let’s enjoy the beauty of Kashmir beyond politics!”

A beautiful morning walk became a political discussion, echoed even in J&K Assembly too! I briefly came across CM, Omar Abdullah sahab and Farooq Abdullah sahab at the Tulip Garden on early morning visit to avoid inconvenience for the visitors & tourists at daytime.
We… pic.twitter.com/ITc1qIsHJl

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) April 9, 2025

Despite Rijiju’s clarification, the political fallout continued, with several opposition voices interpreting the meeting as symbolic and politically charged.

Opposition Slams Abdullahs, Questions Political Alignment

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition members were quick to react, accusing the ruling National Conference (NC) of cozying up to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), particularly in the wake of Rijiju's central role in pushing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill through Parliament.

PDP MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Para raised the issue in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, expressing dismay over Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's absence from the proceedings for the second consecutive day.

“He (Omar) should have been here because this issueconcerns Muslim properties like mosques, shrines, and graveyards. Instead, he is giving a red-carpet welcome to Union Minister Kiren Rijiju in the Tulip Garden,” Para stated.

Para argued that the National Conference’s passive stance toward the controversial Waqf amendments signaled a deeper alignment with the BJP, despite widespread resentment among India’s 24 crore Muslims. He claimed that the government's refusal to pass a resolution against the new Waqf law was a deliberate effort to normalize and legitimize the amendments.

Mehbooba Mufti Condemns ‘Symbolic Celebration’ of Marginalisation

PDP President Mehbooba Mufti joined in the criticism, urging the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to reject the Waqf (Amendment) Act and warning that the optics of the Tulip Garden meeting sent a disturbing signal to the Muslim community across India.

“After bulldozing the Waqf Amendment Bill through Parliament, Minister Kiren Rijiju strategically chose to visit Kashmir. He was given a red-carpet welcome by the Chief Minister of India’s only Muslim-majority state — a move that seemed designed and deliberate to signal to the 24 crore Muslims across India that their views hold little weight,” she said.

Mufti expressed concern that the meeting, held in the picturesque setting of Asia’s largest tulip garden, resembled a public celebration of marginalization, especially at a time when Muslim voices were increasingly being sidelined.

National Conference Dismisses Allegations as Baseless

In response to the allegations, the National Conference rejected the opposition's claims, accusing them of “fishing in the desert” and attempting to create political drama out of an incidental interaction. NC leaders argued that a chance encounter during a morning walk was being blown out of proportion and distorted to serve political narratives.

They reiterated that no formal meeting occurred and that pleasantries exchanged in a public place should not be construed as an endorsement or political alliance. They criticized the opposition for using sensitive religious and community-related issues to gain political mileage.

Political Symbolism and Community Sentiments

Despite the NC's denial of any political motive, the controversy surrounding the Waqf (Amendment) Act and the perceived normalization of BJP-backed policies has triggered a wave of criticism. Many opposition leaders believe that symbolic gestures, such as the Tulip Garden meeting, are being used to downplay the growing unease among Muslims regarding changes to laws that affect religious endowments.

As debate continues both inside and outside the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, the incident has ignited a wider conversation about representation, minority rights, and political messaging in India’s only Muslim-majority region.