Jammu, Nov 13 (KNS): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said political rivalry should not be allowed to turn into personal enmity, asserting that differences in political views and electoral competition must not come at the cost of mutual respect and personal relationships.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the 22nd All India Vice-Chancellor T20 Cricket Tournament at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu, the Chief Minister said political opponents should be treated as competitors rather than enemies, drawing a comparison between political rivalry and competition in sports.

"People often ask me what I think about those who contest elections against me, criticise me on social media or speak against me in media interviews. My answer has always been that they are my political opponents, not my enemies," Omar said.

He said differences in political positions should not prevent people from maintaining cordial personal relations.

"If I get an opportunity, I would sit with them over a cup of tea and ask about their families," he said, underlining the need to keep political disagreements separate from personal relationships.

The Chief Minister said the same approach should guide sporting competitions, where participants may compete strongly against one another but must maintain mutual respect regardless of the outcome.

"Competition does not mean hatred. You are opponents on the field, not enemies," he told the participating teams.

Referring to the tournament, Omar said 24 teams were participating, including six from Jammu and Kashmir and 18 from other states.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

He said universities were often judged by the performance and achievements of their students, while the contribution of employees responsible for their day-to-day functioning rarely received similar attention.

"When we talk about universities, our attention generally goes to students and their participation in different activities. But a university is not built by students alone. It also depends on those who work behind the scenes to keep the institution functioning," he said.

The Chief Minister observed that university employees often remained away from the spotlight during convocations, annual functions and sporting events, despite their contribution to the functioning of educational institutions.

He said the tournament provided an opportunity for such employees to participate in sporting activities and receive recognition beyond their routine responsibilities.

Omar expressed hope that the participating teams would compete in the true spirit of sportsmanship and use the event to build friendships across institutions and states.

He said the outcome of a match should not affect the relationships developed during the tournament, adding that participants should leave the field with mutual respect irrespective of victory or defeat.

The Chief Minister reiterated that competition, whether in politics or sports, should remain healthy and should never become a reason for hostility or hatred. (KNS)