Gautam Gambhir, Omar Abdullah cross swords over Manan Wani killing

Ace opener Gautam Gambhir is known for his forthright viewpoints on various topics – be it cricket or the radicalisation of youth and this time he has found himself in the middle of a heated conversation with a politician over the killing of Manan Wani, a scholar-turned-militant by Jammu and Kashmir Police at Handwara in the state’s Kupwara district on October 11.

Gambhir said in a tweet on October 12 night saying in Manan Wani’s death, a radicalised talent was lost. He slammed all political parties – including the two national parties Congress and BJP and the two state-based parties – National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party – saying “they left a young man drift from books to embrace bullet”.

Gautam hits back to Abdullah after latter taunts him

To this, though the other three parties did not say anything, NC leader Omar Abdullah, who is also the state’s current leader of Opposition, hit back at the 36-year-old cricketer. On a sarcastic note, the former chief minister of J&K said Gambhir would not be able to locate Manan’s home district, let alone his village, and yet presumed to know what drove the Kashmiri youth to choose the extremist way. He also taunted the cricketer saying the latter knew less about Kashmir.

Gambhir hit back immediately, and clinging on to the point of “map”, accused Abdullah and his ilk of trying to change the map of India by talking Kashmir to Pakistan, the neighbouring country against which he has been found to be taking a hard stand in the past on the question of terrorism.

Abdullah was in no mood to give up. Defending his stand, the 48-year-old leader said in another tweet: “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.”

Abdullah also advised Gambhir to come back a better-informed person and accused him of playing to the galleries. The cricketer hit back again, saying Abdullah and politicians like him hate to see “mirror thrusted” on them and said there was a need for real characters and not someone like Abdullah who he accused of giving “lip service”.

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.

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) October 12, 2018

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. https://t.co/oZ8hc5VcgH

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 12, 2018

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

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) October 12, 2018

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. https://t.co/iM14SarX5j

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 12, 2018

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.

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 12, 2018

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!!!

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) October 12, 2018

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