Gulmarg: A fashion show held in Gulmarg has triggered massive outrage in Jammu and Kashmir, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah admitting on Wednesday that the hotel where the event took place belongs to his relatives. However, he distanced the J-K government from the controversy, stating that such events are beyond the elected government’s jurisdiction.
“These things are not under our jurisdiction. The basis for organizing such an event was never shared with us. On principle, we have never supported such decisions,” Omar Abdullah said. Acknowledging his family’s ownership, he added, “Yes, this hotel belongs to my relative. My family owns two hotels here – The Nedous and the Highland Park. I have never denied this.”
The controversy intensified after Kashmir’s top cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, slammed the event as “outrageous” and urged the government to take action. Abdullah himself had earlier condemned the show, particularly since it was held during the holy month of Ramzan. “From what I saw, this should not have been organized at any time of the year, let alone in Ramzan,” he remarked in the J-K Assembly.
When asked whether any action would be taken against the organizers, Abdullah assured that any legal violations would be dealt with accordingly. However, the backlash continues to grow, with critics questioning how such an event was allowed in Kashmir’s premier tourist destination.
