Jammu, June 11
Before returning to Srinagar on the Vande Bharat train on Wednesday, former Chief Minister and ruling National Conference (NC) President, Dr Farooq Abdullah paid obeisance at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K) Reasi district.
Talking to reporters on Wednesday, Dr Farooq said, “I had a great 'darshan' and I am hopeful that all our prayers for peace, progress and brotherhood at the shrine will be answered so that we can move forward and our country also marches ahead and we become part of its development trajectory.”
On Tuesday, the 87-year-old NC President took his maiden ride from Srinagar to Katra town on the Vande Bharat train, which connects Kashmir to the rest of the country.
Dr Farooq stayed at the sanctum sanctorum of Mata Vaishno Devi shrine overnight and took part in special prayers there.
He was accompanied by his grandsons, Zamir and Zahid.
J&K minister, Satish Sharma and CM Omar Abdullah's advisor, Nasir Aslam Wani and several NC legislators, including party chief spokesperson, Tanvir Sadiq accompanied the NC President during his train journey.
Asked about his overnight stay at the shrine, Dr Farooq said, "I felt very happy.”