J&K sarpanch protests: Omar denies reports of rift with Rahul

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said there was no battle going on between him and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on security for sarpanches and empowering of panchayats. "Have to love the media's priorities when my imaginary battle with Rahul (Gandhi) is more important than what the President (Pranab Mukherjee) says in Kashmir," Omar wrote on Twitter.

Congress had on Thursday dismissed suggestions that it is "Omar versus Rahul" on the issue of the security of elected sarpanches in Jammu and Kashmir but stressed they should be provided full security by the state government.

"Not at all. There is nothing like Omar Abdullah versus Rahul Gandhi in this matter," party spokesperson Rashid Alvi had told reporters in Delhi when asked whether the issue of security of elected sarpanches and panchayat members in Jammu and Kashmir was leading to some sort of a tiff between Rahul and Omar.

A few sarpanches from J&K had met Rahul on Thursday and they told him that they were being treated as second class citizens.

A delegation of nine sarpanches from the state had met Gandhi on Thursday and some of them complained to him that the state government was treating the elected panchayat members as second class citizens.

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