War of words was triggered on social media between singer Adnan Sami and the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, after the latter had retweeted a post claiming “empty seats” at a concert in Srinagar.

The concert was organised by the Union Home Ministry and the J-K government on Saturday in a bid to revive the tourism industry in the state.

The first salvo on twitter was fired by Omar Abdullah in response to a tweet about preparations for the concert to which he replied: “Thank you for vindication @JKPDP because I haven’t forgotten what you said about the #ZubinMehta concert. Enjoy your evening all of you”.

Omar was referring to the 2013 concert of western classical musician Zubin Mehta, Ehsass-e-Kashmir, that was organised during his tenure as the chief ministers of the state on the lawns of the Shalimar garden on the banks of the Dal Lake. The PDP and the separatists had criticised the Omar government for holding the concert and described it as a “non-event”.

The tweeter war escalated later in the evening when Omar retweeted someone’s post with a picture “Empty seats waits for @AdnanSamiLive concert to start on the Banks of Dal Lake #Srinagar #Kashmir”. This was followed by a series of tweets carrying barbs between Omar and Adnan.

Empty seats waits for @AdnanSamiLive concert to start on the Banks of Dal Lake #Srinagar #Kashmir pic.twitter.com/ZAYRtFtvo8

— Umar Ganie (@UmarGanie1) October 7, 2017

Omar in his next tweets said, “The empty seats & delayed start are showing Kashmir for what it is—empty hotels, poor governance & general public despondency”. “Why couldn’t it have just been about the music? Why did the home Ministry have to make it about propaganda?”

The empty seats & delayed start are showing Kashmir for what it is – empty hotels, poor governance & general public despondency. https://t.co/ojcNjaYUQC

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 7, 2017

Adnan Sami reacted by posting some pictures of a large gathering in his concert and tweeted “Bro ur a former CM..U shouldn’t be so unnerved by a music concert. U obviously have bad sources who lie 2 U—HERE are d photos !! #GrowUp”.

Omar immediately fired “How does hoping you have a houseful suggest I’m unnerved? I’m glad people got to enjoy an evening of music. I used to like yours at one time”.

How does hoping you have a houseful suggest I’m unnerved? I’m glad people got to enjoy an evening of music. I used to like yours at one time https://t.co/AaP3L4KPgf

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 7, 2017

Adnan tweeted after the concert “2nite Kashmir was a dream fulfilled. Srinagar, U ROCKED! Thank U 4 d Love & Generous Hospitality! Thank U 4 Singing wt Me. We made History!”.

2nite Kashmir was a dream fulfilled.Srinagar, U ROCKED! Thank U 4 d Love & Generous Hospitality! Thank U 4 Singing wt Me. We made History!🙏💖 pic.twitter.com/k6niHV8D8Z

— Adnan Sami (@AdnanSamiLive) October 7, 2017

Later, Omar said in his final tweet, “Like you said right in the beginning – I am a former CM & so I’ll ignore yr 7-8 insults in 3 tweets.Thanks for coming to Srinagar.Stay safe.”

“So you finally realised huh! Der aye durust aye,” Sami responded.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju was present during the event, whereas J-K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti did not attend the music concert.