The Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board's plan for common social themes in Friday sermons has sparked controversy. Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and the Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema opposed the move, while chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi said it was a collective decision by Islamic scholars

Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said the yatra was intended to engage with people and understand their concerns rather than deliver a one-way political message