While thousands of border residents celebrated Diwali in complete darkness staying away from their homes and hearths in transit camps set up by the State Government agencies BJP’s Deputy Chief Minister Prof Nirmal Singh Monday hosted a Diwali Milan at his official residence in Jammu.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also attended the Diwali milan and spent some quality time with her senior cabinet colleagues from the BJP.
One Indian army jawan attained martyrdom while one woman died in intense Pak shelling in Mendhar. Till late Monday evening the office secretariat of CM or Deputy CM had not issued any statement acknowledging the sacrifice of brave soldier nor condoled the death of a civilian woman.
Though several Cabinet Ministers remained conspicuous with their absence prominent citizens, BJP leaders and media men attended the gathering. Vegetarian cuisine was served to guests in the lawns of Deputy Chief Ministers canal road residence. His wife and senior party leader Mamta Singh greeted guests along with her husband.
Deputy Chief Minister had earlier visited BSF jawans in Suchetgarh and distributed sweets to them on Sunday. He was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Sham lal Choudhary to the border area.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also took some time off on Diwali and visited old age and orphanage to spend some time with kids and senior citizens. She also distributed gifts to children and senior citizens.