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On Delhi blast, Omar Abdullah says people from Kashmir looked at with suspicion: ‘Even driving a vehicle…’

Omar Abdullah said that the entire population in Kashmir was seen with suspicion because of the involvement of a few people in the terror attack.

Updated on: Nov 19, 2025, 17:38:03 IST
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Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday voiced concerns over the recent Delhi blast, saying an attempt was being made to create an environment as if all the people from the union territory were guilty.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during the 90th meeting of the Jammu Development Authority Board, in Jammu on Thursday. (@CM_JnK/ANI Photo) (@CM_JnK X)
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during the 90th meeting of the Jammu Development Authority Board, in Jammu on Thursday. (@CM_JnK/ANI Photo) (@CM_JnK X)

Speaking of the blast — in which the prime suspect was identified as Dr Umar Un Nabi, a resident of Pulwama — Omar Abdullah said that the entire population in Kashmir was looked at with suspicion because of the involvement of a few people in the terror attack.

"In the prevailing circumstances, parents will not like to send their children outside. When we are looked at with suspicious eyes from every side, when attempts are made to defame us for someone else's doing, when attempts are made to bring everyone into the ambit of what few people have done, then it is obvious that it becomes difficult for us to leave for outside," Abdullah said at an event in Kulgam.

"Few people are responsible for what happened in Delhi, but a perception is being created that we all are to blame for that and we all are a part of it," he added.

While Dr Umar Un Nabi was behind the wheel of the car that exploded near Red Fort on November 10, his friend Dr Muzammil Shakeel Ganaie from Pulwama and Dr Adeel Ahmed Rather from Anantnag were involved in the "white collar" terror module, which was linked to the Delhi blast.

The chief minister said that even driving a vehicle with J&K registration in Delhi is considered a crime.

"Today, even driving a J-K registration vehicle in Delhi is being seen as a crime. When I do not have many security personnel with me, I myself think whether I should take out my car or not, as I do not know if anyone will stop me and ask me where I was from and why I had come there," he said.

Also Read: Jammu: Not every Kashmiri is a terrorist, says Omar

The November 10 blast has claimed 10 lives and triggered a multi-agency investigation involving the Delhi Police Special Cell, NIA and Crime Branch.

Last week, Abdullah, while condemning the attack, said that "not every Kashmiri Muslim was a terrorist" and that "innocent people should not be dragged into it".

"Any amount of condemnation would be too small. No religion allows merciless killings of innocent people. The investigations have been initiated but not every resident of J&K is a terrorist and every resident is not standing with the terrorists," he said.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Majid Alam

Majid Alam is a Chief Content Producer working at Hindustan Times, based in New Delhi. He currently heads shifts at online desk and manages homepage apart from writing, editing and curating articles. With over six years of experience in journalism, Majid has navigated national, politics and international news. His work primarily focuses on the politics of the Hindi heartland, government policies, and South Asia. He also writes on US and Europe’s policies vis-à-vis India. Before joining Hindustan Times, Majid worked at ABP LIVE as the Chief Copy Editor and at News18, where he managed the World and Explainers sections. His articles have featured in Dialogue Earth, The Quint, BMJ, The Diplomat, and Outlook India. Majid has a keen interest in the use of data for storytelling. Majid holds a Masters in Convergent Journalism from Jamia Millia Islamia. He was awarded the Erasmus+ scholarship to study International Affairs at Sciences Po, Paris in 2020. He is also part of the OCEANS Network, an alumni network of Erasmus+ exchange scholars. He is currently serving as the National Representative (India) at the OCEANS Network. Apart from journalism, Majid has a flair for academic writing and loves to teach. He has published a book chapter: 'Bombay Cinema and Postmodernism' in the book: 'Handbook of Research on Social and Cultural Dynamics in Indian Cinema.' He was also part of the OCEANS Network delegation to Hanoi National University of Education in Vietnam in 2025. He has also given guest lecture in digital journalism at AJK MCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia.

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