New Delhi : With Mehbooba Mufti set to take oath as the first woman Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on April 4, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday reignited the nationalism debate, saying he would look forward to PDP MLAs saying ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’.
“I look forward to seeing all members of the PDP-BJP alliance say this (Bharat Mata Ki Jai) as soon as they take their oath tomorrow,” Omar said in a tweet.
Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said at a function in Nagpur, “It makes me wonder where are we heading? Why should I feel ashamed of saying “Bharat Mata ki Jai” in my own country. There is still a dispute over saying ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and those opposed to say it, should not have any right to stay in India. Those living here should say ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’.”
Shiv Sena, too had earlier asked whether Mehbooba Mufti would say ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ in honour of displaced Kashmiri Pandits.
“The most important thing is that Mehbooba Mufti and the BJP were never comfortable together. Mehbooba bai’s anti-national statements, her association with the separatists, have always remained controversial. Bai sahib (Mehbooba) has been sympathetic towards those raising anti-national slogans in Kashmir,” the Saamna article said.
“Therefore, BJP would be happy that she is set to become the chief minister with their support, but the nation is worried…These days a debate is going on in the nation over nationalism. So, will Mehbooba Mufti say ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’? Such questions are being asked,” it added.
The PDP-BJP alliance was formed after an almost two-month deadlock following chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s death on January 7.
Mehbooba Mufti will be sworn in on April 4 at 11 a.m. She will be the 13th Chief Minister of the state. State Governor N.N. Vohra has issued invitation to her to form the new government.
The swearing in ceremony will take place at Raj Bhawan in Jammu.
Union Ministers Venkaiah Naidu and Jitendra Singh will attend the swearing-in ceremony tomorrow. (ANI)