Srinagar, June 6 -- Speaking at the formal inauguration of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), Omar struck a mix of praise and political reflection. "Even the Britishers dreamt of a railway to Kashmir, but it is Prime Minister Modi who has made that dream a reality," he said. "What they couldn't achieve, you have."

However, Omar didn't shy away from addressing the altered political status of Jammu and Kashmir. Sharing the stage with PM Modi and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha during the flagging off of the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express, he remarked:"Call it fate or destiny, but I've been present at every major railway inauguration in J&K - from Anantnag to Banihal to Katra. Back in 2014, the same four of us were here...