In a rare political gesture, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and National Conference (NC) patron Farooq Abdullah attended an Iftaar party hosted by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday.
Sources said Mehbooba Mufti extended an invitation to the Chief Minister and the veteran NC leader, which they readily accepted. Both leaders were present at the gathering, marking a moment of political cordiality despite their parties' historical rivalry.
According to insiders, the event was purely social and carried no political undertones. “It was just a goodwill gesture, not linked to any political discussions,” a source privy to the gathering said.
The presence of the two senior NC leaders at an event hosted by the PDP chief has sparked curiosity in political circles, given the longstanding competition between the two parties in Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape. However, those close to the attendees emphasized that the gathering was simply an occasion to observe the spirit of Ramadhan.
Such interactions, though uncommon, underline the cultural and social traditions of Kashmir, where political adversaries occasionally set aside differences to come together on religious and social occasions.