Omar Abdullah shuts up Gautam Gambhir for ‘lecture on nationalism’

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Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, on Friday found himself embroiled into a Twitter spat with former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir. This was after Gambhir appeared to provoke the National Conference leader on the death of PhD scholar-turned-militant Mannan Bashir Wani in North Kashmir on Thursday.

Wani was expelled by Aligarh Muslim University in January this year after his photo appeared with a message claiming that he had joined the militant outfit, Hizbul Mujahideen.

Taking a dig at Omar Abdullah, Indian National Congress, BJP and Former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Gambhir wrote, “Mannan Wani’s death: We killed a terrorist and lost a radicalised talent. @OmarAbdullah @MehboobaMufti @INCIndia @BJP4India all should bow their heads in embarrassment that they left a young man drift from books to embrace bullet.”

An angry Abdullah decided not to ignore Gambhir’s rant and replied, “This man wouldn’t be able to find Manan’s home district on a map much less his village & yet he presumes to know what drives young men in Kashmir to pick up the gun. Mr Gambhir clearly knows less about Kashmir than I do about cricket & I know almost nothing.”

Undeterred by Abdullah’s response, Gambhir accused him of being ‘hell bent’ on changing India’s map. This was to suggest that Abdullah and his party favoured separatists in the Valley. Gambhir wrote, “Come on @OmarAbdullah you shouldn’t talk about maps, you are hell bent in changing the map of my country by talking Kashmir to Pakistan! Stroll out of that ivory tower and explain what u or ur fellow politicians have done to engage the Kashmiri youth @BJP4India @INCIndia.”

Pat came another terse reply from Abdullah, “It’s been less than a week since I had two of my colleagues killed by terrorists, my party has lost 1000s of workers, both senior & junior since 1988. I don’t need a lecture in nationalism & sacrifice from someone who wouldn’t know sacrifice if it kicked him.”

Gambhir replied, “You aren’t alone @OmarAbdullah, most of ur lot (read politicians) don’t like mirror thrusted on u and that’s why my country is bleeding. Nationalism and sacrifice need men of real character and not someone like u searching for lip-service in 280 character limit of social media!!!”

To which, Abdullah asked Gambhir to educate himself about Kashmir before having another round of debate on the region. He wrote, “Come back when you’ve educated yourself about Kashmir and we can have an informed discussion till then you can keep playing to the galleries.”

There were reports recently that Gambhir may contest assembly polls on a BJP ticket in Delhi in 2020. He’s campaigned for the saffron party in elections in the past.

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