Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India] May 23 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated on Friday that Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi will visit Poonch tomorrow.

He also mentioned that leaders from the TMC party visited Rajouri today.

'Yes, he will visit Poonch. He will meet the people there and express his sympathies. I am thankful to the TMC for initiating it. Five of their members came here and visited by road. They visited Poonch, and they are now in Rajouri. Then will visit Jammu. It is good that they came here and are listening to the people. And we feel that some people are standing with us in such difficult times,' he said.

Jammu and Kashmir CM further emphasised the responsibility of elected representatives to engage with the public and address their concerns, stating that his government is committed to listening to the people and working on their issues.

'It is the duty of an elected government or representatives elected by the people to reach out to people as much as possible, hear their issues and grievances, and try to resolve them. We never said that all issues would be resolved at once. But we have definitely said that we will hear everyone as much as possible and try to work on it. I am doing exactly the same,' he said.

Earlier today, Congress General Secretary in charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, said that the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will visit Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch on Saturday to meet the families of victims killed in recent shelling by Pakistan.

In a post on X on Friday, Ramesh said, 'Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Shri@RahulGandhi will be visiting Poonch tomorrow, May 24th, to meet the families bereaved during the shelling by Pakistan very recently.'

Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Rajouri districts have been affected during the recent conflict with Pakistan. The Pakistani side had indulged in unprovoked firing across the border due to which locals suffered damage to their homes and lost their sources of livelihood. The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the next of kin of those killed. (ANI)