A file image of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during the inauguration of the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex at Government Degree College, Tangmarg, in Baramulla on May 6, 2026.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Omar Abdullah was responding to a post by his party National Conference’s state spokesperson. (File)

Srinagar:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that he is eagerly looking forward to his visit to the Sonamarg area of Jammu and Kashmir where he is scheduled to inaugurate the Z-Morh tunnel on Monday. The Prime Minister reacted to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s comments and videos he posted on X, after visiting the Gagangir area on Saturday.

“I am eagerly awaiting my visit to Sonmarg, Jammu and Kashmir for the tunnel inauguration. You rightly point out the benefits for tourism and the local economy. Also, loved the aerial pictures and videos!” PM Modi wrote on X.

I am eagerly awaiting my visit to Sonmarg, Jammu and Kashmir for the tunnel inauguration. You rightly point out the benefits for tourism and the local economy.

Also, loved the aerial pictures and videos! https://t.co/JCBT8Ei175

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 11, 2025

Omar Abdullah visited the Gagangir area of Ganderbal district on Saturday to oversee the arrangements being made for PM Modi’s arrival on Monday.

“Visited Sonmarg today to review preparations for PM @narendramodi ji’s visit on Monday. The inauguration of the Z-morh tunnel will open Sonmarg to tourism all-year-round, Sonmarg will now be developed as a great ski resort. The local population will not have to leave in winter & the travel time to Kargil/Leh from Srinagar will also reduce,” he wrote on X.

The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister also posted some pictures of the area he visited on Saturday.

Views of the tunnel entrance & Sonmarg from the air. pic.twitter.com/yLOvW87JCW

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) January 11, 2025

The Z-Morh tunnel will bypass the troublesome stretch of the highway from Gagangir to Sonamarg that remains closed during the winter months by avalanches and heavy snowfall.

The Prime Minister will also address a public gathering at Sonamarg on Monday.

Arrangements of security have been made at the venues of functions being attended by the Prime Minister. An impregnable security blanket consisting of the SPG, security forces, J&K police and the army has been thrown on the entire area in the 20-km radius of the Prime Minister’s engagement sites.

The Z-Morh tunnel is a 6.5 km long 2-lane road tunnel between Gagangir and Sonamarg in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir in India. It is named after the Z-shaped stretch of road that the tunnel has replaced (Z-Morh translates to “Z-turn” in English).

The road used before was avalanche-prone and used to get blocked for several months, but the Z-Morh tunnel provides all-weather connectivity to the Sonamarg tourist town.

It takes only 15 minutes to travel the 6.5 km-long tunnel compared to hours over the zig-zag road up and down the hills. The tunnel, once operational, will help employment for local youth, travel to Ladakh region and Amarnath Yatra in addition to giving a big boost to tourism in the area.

Ahead of the formal inauguration of the Sonamarg Tunnel by PM Modi, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister conducted an extensive review of arrangements at the project site.

Accompanied by his Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani and MLA Kangan Mian Mehar Ali, the CM was briefed by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri on the comprehensive preparations for the inauguration of the strategic over 6 km-long tunnel on the Srinagar-Leh Highway.

“The Chief Minister inspected the tunnel tubes and interacted with the engineers and workers involved in the construction of the project, expressing his appreciation for their efforts in completing this vital infrastructure,” an official statement read.

“He also visited the venue where Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to address a public gathering and formally dedicate the project to the nation. Reflecting on the region’s tourism potential, CM Abdullah reiterated his vision of positioning Ganderbal as a premier winter sports destination.

“He emphasised that the Sonamarg Tunnel would not only ensure all-weather connectivity to Sonamarg but also supplement Gulmarg as another skiing and winter sports destination, unlocking new avenues for tourism and economic growth,” it added.

The Sonamarg Tunnel is a significant milestone in improving connectivity between Srinagar and Leh, ensuring all-weather access to Sonamarg and enhancing the region’s economic and tourism prospects.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Omar Abdullah, Congress ally and Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, defended Rahul Gandhi today after a BJP MP alleged that senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was responsible for his injuries during a brawl outside the parliament building. 

Protests ruled parliament today over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s “fashion” remark on BR Ambedkar. The Congress claimed a group of MPs had tried to bar Mr Gandhi’s entry into parliament. It apparently led to a brawl, in which, the BJP claimed, two of its MPs were injured and alleged that Mr Gandhi was the instigator.

“Rahul Gandhi pushed an MP who fell on me after which I fell down,” said BJP MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi. “I was standing near the stairs when Rahul Gandhi came and pushed an MP who then fell on me,” added the leader, who was taken to the hospital for first aid.

“I know Rahul, he would not push anyone much less a member of parliament. It’s simply not in his nature to be rude or nasty to anyone,” posted Omar Abdullah on X after Mr Sarangi’s allegations were widely circulated on social media. 

I know Rahul, he would not push anyone much less a member of parliament. It’s simply not in his nature to be rude or nasty to anyone. https://t.co/t0zCaQRvHT

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) December 19, 2024

A police case has been filed against the Congress leader.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju was the loudest to condemn Mr Gandhi, who holds a black belt in Aikido, a Japanese martial art. 

“Under which law does he have the power to physically assault other MPs? Have you learnt karate, kung fu, to beat other MPs?” he said. Demanding an apology from the Congress leader, he said, “Parliament is not a wrestling arena”. 

New Delhi:

When Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah meets Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Wednesday, restoration of statehood will not be the only item on the top of the agenda, sources have told NDTV, indicating that the amended Transaction of Business Rules – which have given additional powers to the Lieutenant Governor – will also be a key topic of discussion.

Introduced as part of changes in the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, the amendments to the Transaction of Business Rules (TBR) were made in July, two months before the Assembly elections in the Union Territory. They widened some of the powers of the Lieutenant Governor and had attracted criticism from Mr Abdullah at the time as well. 

“Another indicator that elections are around the corner in Jammu and Kashmir. This is why a firm commitment laying out the timeline for restoration of full, undiluted statehood for Jammu and Kashmir is a prerequisite for these elections. The people of J&K deserved better than a powerless, rubber stamp Chief Minister, who will have to beg the Lieutenant Governor to get his/her peon appointed,” Mr Abdullah had been quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Despite stating that he wants good relations with the Centre ahead of his oath ceremony in October, there has been friction between the National Conference leader and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on several occasions. The transfer of some state administrative officers is the latest flashpoint between the two. 

“The friction between the Chief Minister-led administration and the office of Lieutenant Governor is quite evident. Often, important files are delayed and transfers are made without even informing the chief minister. The recent transfer of Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officers and extensions given to some others are now the latest point of difference between Mr Abdullah and Mr Sinha,” a source said. 

Some MLAs have also raised concerns with the Chief Minister that most basic public issues have remained unresolved and officers from the JKAS do not pay any heed to their requests.

“Due to business and conduct rules, we have another power centre (lieutenant governor) and this needs to change,” CPM MLA Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami told NDTV. He said this is why he had stated in the Assembly that, “This is a House where the House also does not know what it can or cannot legislate.”

A senior bureaucrat, however, said no one has the right to complain about the TBR unless amendments are made. 

“The Lieutenant Governor was given powers to take decisions as per law and he is doing so,” the bureaucrat said. 

Amendments Soon?

Sources said a draft of an amended TBR, giving more clarity on the distribution of powers, has already been submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

“Once cleared, the business rules will help streamline the governance process in J&K, ensuring greater efficiency and accountability in the administration. The rules will also play a key role in providing a clear legal and operational structure to the governance model, which is expected to be in line with the constitutional changes made in 2019,” the source said, referring to the scrapping of Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. 

The power tussle between the Chief Minister and Lieutenant Governor has given more ammunition to the National Conference, Congress, PDP and other parties, which have been pushing for the restoration of statehood for J&K. Wednesday’s meeting will be the second  between Mr Abdullah and Amit Shah since the National Conference leader took oath as Chief Minister. 

The Congress has claimed that ally Omar Abdullah’s approach to issues concerning the opposition has changed since he became Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. The dig followed the National Conference leader junking allegations about the manipulation of EVMs or Electronic Voting Machines – raised by the Congress and several opposition parties.

Manickam Tagore, a senior Congress parliamentarian, said the recent allegations about EVMs following the Maharashtra election results were made by the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), Shiv Sena (UBT), and Samajwadi Party.

“It’s the Samajwadi Party, NCP, and Shiv Sena UBT that have spoken against EVMs. Please check your facts, CM @OmarAbdullah. The Congress CWC resolution clearly addresses the ECI only. Why this approach to our partners after being CM?” asked Mr Tagore.

Read: “Can’t Say You Don’t Like EVMs Because…”: Ally Junks Congress’ Charge

Opposition allegations over the functioning of EVMs had re-emerged recently with veteran politician Sharad Pawar raising doubts over the outcome of the Maharashtra polls. Mr Pawar’s party – split by his nephew Ajit Pawar, who now heads the ‘original’ NCP – suffered its worst defeat in the recent polls.

None of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners could win even 10% of the total seats in the elections, which saw the opposition parties allege discrepancies in the voting method.

A resolution by the Congress Working Committee – also shared by Mr Tagore in response to Mr Abdullah – said the poor performance appeared to be a “clear case of targeted manipulation”. It also raised questions over the “partisan functioning” of the Election Commission.

Read: “No Mismatch”: Election Body On Opposition’s Maharashtra Vote Fraud Charge

Asked about the allegations, Omar Abdullah, whose party is part of the INDIA alliance, said that one must be “consistent” in questioning the machines that are used to hold elections across the country.

“When you get a hundred plus members of parliament using the same EVMs, and you celebrate that as sort of a victory for your party, you can’t then a few months later turn around and say… we don’t like these EVMs because now the election results aren’t going the way we would like them to,” Mr Abdullah said.

The NC leader said that political parties that do not trust the voting method should not contest polls.

Mr Abdullah’s party and the Congress had contested the October elections in Jammu and Kashmir together.

New Delhi:

At a time when Congress and its allies have raised questions on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) and demanded a return to ballot voting, INDIA alliance member National Conference has said one has to be “consistent” in questioning the voting method.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, also the vice-president of Congress ally National Conference, told news agency PTI in an interview that it is wrong to question EVMs only when results don’t meet expectations.

“When you get a hundred plus members of Parliament using the same EVMs, and you celebrate that as sort of a victory for your party, you can’t then a few months later turn around and say… we don’t like these EVMs because now the election results aren’t going the way we would like them to,” Mr Abdullah said. When he was told that his remarks echoed the BJP’s counter to the Congress’s EVM charge, Mr Abdullah said, “God forbid… No, it’s just that… what’s right is right.”

“If you have problems with the EVMs, then you should be consistent in those problems,” he said, adding that parties should not contest polls if they do not trust the voting method.

Citing his example of losing in the Lok Sabha election and scoring a big win in the Assembly polls months later, he said, “One day voters choose you, the next day they don’t. I never blamed the machines.”

In the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls this year, — the first after the Centre revoked its special status and turned it into a Union Territory — the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference posted a stellar show by winning 48 seats in the 95-member Assembly. The Congress, which fought the polls in alliance with National Conference, won six seats.

Mr Abdullah said he spoke on principles instead of partisan loyalty. In another remark at odds with the Congress line, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister praised the Narendra Modi government for infrastructure projects like the Central Vista.

“Contrary to what everybody else believes, I think that what’s happening with this Central Vista project in Delhi is a damn good thing. I believe constructing a new Parliament building was an excellent idea. We needed a new Parliament building. The old one had outlived its utility,” he said.

Mr Abdullah’s remarks come amid the protest by the Congress and some of its allies against the EVM voting method after its big losses in Haryana and Maharashtra. The BJP has trashed the allegations and pointed to the Opposition’s win in Jharkhand, which voted along with Maharashtra.

The National Conference leader’s statements also come amid rumblings within the INDIA Opposition bloc, with the Trinamool Congress demanding a change at the top and naming its chief Mamata Banerjee as leader of the alliance.

On a question regarding this issue, Mr Abdullah acknowledged that there is disquiet among some INDIA partners as they felt Congress was not doing enough to earn the bloc’s leadership.

“By virtue of being the single largest party in Parliament, and also having the leader of opposition in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, the fact that they have a pan-India footprint, which no other party can lay claim to, they are natural sort of leaders of an opposition movement,” he said.

“Yet there is a sense of disquiet among some of the allies because they feel the Congress is “not doing enough to justify it or to earn it or to keep it. That’s something the Congress might wish to consider.” Mr Abdullah praised former Congress president Sonia Gandhi and said described her as a leader of unparalleled stature within the Opposition. “When the INDIA bloc comes together, she plays an important leadership role,” he added.

New Delhi:

Pooh-poohing the BJP’s criticism of dynasty politics, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said that political lineage is not a “lifelong ticket” to success and questioned why the ruling party doesn’t raise the issue with its allied parties which can also be accused of perpetuating dynasties.

Abdullah was responding to a question during an exclusive interview on Friday with PTI whether his family’s fourth generation will go into politics, and if that would expose him to fresh criticism of perpetuating dynastic politics the way the Congress party and other opposition parties have been.

Abdullah’s two lawyer sons have recently made forceful political commentaries, especially on the issue of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution that took away Kashmir’s special status, an emotive issue among Kashmiris. They also campaigned extensively with their father during the September Assembly elections.

“Whatever space they choose to carve out, they will have to make for themselves. Nobody is going to give them anything on a plate,” said Abdullah, whose grandfather Sheikh Abdullah is considered the founding father of the post-independence state of Jammu and Kashmir.

His father Farooq Abdullah was also a chief minister for decades, and Omar Abdullah returned as chief minister for a second time in October.

“Belonging to a political family is not a lifelong ticket for success. And I don’t need to point towards anybody else. I’ll just talk about myself. I lost an election this year,” he said, referring to his failed bid in the Parliamentary elections earlier this year.

However, he contested in the Assembly elections in September and won handsomely. “I’m the same person, same family, same political party,” he said.

He said the BJP’s criticism of dynasty politics is simply political hypocrisy.

“The BJP only seems to oppose political dynasties when it’s convenient. They have no issues with dynastic politics among their allies,” he said.

“I don’t need to point out the number of dynastic allies that the BJP has or has had in the past or will have in the future. So, I have always maintained that the BJP doesn’t have a problem with political families. They have a problem with political families that are opposed to the BJP,” he said.

From the BJP’s vantage, he said, politicians are neither dynasts nor corrupt once “you are an ally of the BJP.” Asked if he will still give guidance or political advice to his sons, Zamir and Zahir, Abdullah, 54, said, “I have told them that as elected representatives …we are basically glorified daily wagers. We are here today. We will probably not be there tomorrow.”

He then gave his example, saying his party and he were elected in 2014. Then “we were dropped out of office in 2018 and we didn’t come back until 2024. So, you need something (an income and profession) to fall back on,” he said.

Drawing parallels with other fields like acting and sports, he highlighted that initial advantages of family connections quickly fade.

“Some get recognised initially, but if you can’t perform, no one will carry you,” he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has bluntly termed the dual governance model in the Union Territory — where he shares power with the lieutenant governor — a “recipe for disaster”, as he urged the Centre to keep its promise and restore statehood to the region at the earliest.

In his first sit-down interview since assuming office in October, Omar Abdullah expressed cautious optimism over the Centre’s commitment to restoring J-K’s statehood, citing repeated promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah during election campaigns.

The chief minister’s candid remarks underscore the complex political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir, and the difficulties in pushing for a more defined and unified administrative leadership by virtue of getting statehood.

Mr Abdullah drew parallels with corporate leadership, challenging anyone to name a successful business with multiple leaders.

“Let me just say this, having two power centres anywhere is a recipe for disaster… No organisation works well if there are multiple power centres…. there is a reason why our sports team has one captain. You don’t have two captains.

“Similarly, you don’t have two prime ministers or two power centres in the government of India. And most of India has one elected chief minister who is empowered with their cabinet to take decisions,” he told PTI’s senior editors at its headquarters.

“A dual power centre system is never going to work,” he said, citing the example of Delhi where the government shares power with the lieutenant governor in what has been a bitter and fractious experience.

Mr Abdullah noted that Delhi is after all a small city state, while Jammu and Kashmir is a large and strategic region bordering China and Pakistan, making its need for a unified command far greater.

“So no. In the two months that I’ve been chief minister, I have yet to come across a single example where J-K has benefited out of being a Union Territory. Not one. There’s not a single example of governance or development that has come to J-K by virtue of it being a Union Territory,” he said.

Jammu-Kashmir was reorganised into a Union Territory in August 2019 under an Act of Parliament after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, which had given the erstwhile state special powers and status.

The Union’s Territory’s governance was handed over to the lieutenant governor. A year ago, on December 11, 2023, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to hold assembly elections by September and asked the Centre to restore statehood at the earliest without giving a deadline.

Assembly elections were held in September, which Mr Abdullah’s National Conference party swept, winning 41 of the 90 seats which went to polls. Its ally, the Congress party, won six seats. The BJP won 28 seats.

Mr Abdullah said elections in Jammu and Kashmir could only be held because of the intervention of the Supreme Court, but “unfortunately, and this is a matter of great regret for us, on the statehood question, the Supreme Court was more vague than I would have liked them to be”.

Restoration of statehood “as soon as possible is good, but it’s not as good. If they had said as soon as possible for Assembly elections, I wouldn’t be sitting here with you today. Because that as soon as possible may not have come around.” Mr Abdullah acknowledged that he had a backup plan in case Jammu and Kashmir continues to remain a hybrid state, saying “I’d be foolish not to have a backup in mind in case it doesn’t happen.” “Obviously, there’s a time frame in mind as well. But you will allow me to keep that to myself for the moment, simply because I’d like to believe that the promises made to the people of J-K will be kept,” he said.

“The fact is that people came out to vote, they came out for a reason,” indicating that it was a BJP-ruled Centre’s promise of statehood that drew the voters.

“When in the campaign you repeatedly told people that statehood will be restored to J-K, you didn’t say statehood will be restored if the BJP forms a government or statehood will be restored if there is a chief minister from Jammu.

“There were no ifs and buts. You said J-K will be back as a full state. That’s it. So that has to be done now.” Mr Abdullah said in no uncertain terms that the final decision of restoring statehood was to be taken by only two persons — the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.

“Ultimately, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister are the ones who are going to have to sit down and decide if this is what has to be done and this is when it has to be done. Either that, or then it has to be mandated,” he said while replying to a question that the National Conference could use allies of NDA to influence the government for the restoration of statehood.

Describing the current governmental setup as a “work in progress” and a “learning experience,” Mr Abdullah acknowledged the challenging transition for both elected representatives and bureaucratic officials.

He stressed that while Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha handles police, security, and law and order, other administrative responsibilities rest with the elected government.

“We are in the process of re-examining business rules to bring clarity on administrative boundaries,” Mr Abdullah said, highlighting ongoing efforts to streamline governance mechanisms.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)