Latest Updates on Omar Abdullah

The remaining 34 locations are being put up for re-auction through public notice issued on March 7

Abdullah also noted that both 'Bharat' and 'India' are written on the Prime Minister's plane and highlighted the names of the armed forces

Asserting that the lathi charge on the protesting daily wage employees of the Jal Shakti department should not have happened, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said he does not hold control over the police. As the House assembled for the day, opposition members highlighted the massive protests by the daily wagers demanding release of wages and regularisation of jobs, and criticised the lathi charge on them. The BJP members staged a walkout as a ruckus erupted, when the BJP and National Conference members engaged in a verbal duel over the matter. Intervening, Abdullah said, "You (BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa) have asked a question, please wait for the answer." "As far as the police's treatment of the protesters is concerned, I would like to remind Randhawa Sahab, who is making a noise about this issue, that unfortunately, neither you nor I have control over the police," he said. The Chief Minister further said that instead of creating a ruckus inside the House, i

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said tourism activities in the frontier areas of the Union Territory have revived after ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and international border (IB). Replying to a supplementary question raised by National Conference member Sajad Shafi in the Legislative Assembly here regarding his Uri constituency, Abdullah said as the border areas are slowly opening after the ceasefire, tourism is witnessing a positive trend due to the prevailing peace in the region. Shafi also used the opportunity to inform the House about Abdullah's birthday. Most of the members from the treasury and opposition benches wished the chief minister who acknowledged the greetings and thanked the members. "It is true that Uri has huge border tourism potential. Tourists have started visiting areas like Uri and are eager to explore places such as Aman Setu and other scenic locations. Our priority is to enhance tourism infrastructure in these regions," t

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly erupts over Gulmarg fashion show during Ramzan, with CM Omar Abdullah ordering a probe while BJP calls the outrage unwarranted

Amid Ramadan, a fashion show in Gulmarg has triggered backlash, prompting J&K CM Omar Abdullah to order a probe as religious leaders call it 'obscene'

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday said its total debt stands at over Rs 1.25 lakh crore, including Rs 27,900 crore in general provident fund (GPF) for the Union Territory in the last financial year. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also the finance minister of the UT, said in a written reply to Assembly member Sajad Gani Lone that as of March 31, 2024, Jammu and Kashmir's total debt is Rs 1,25,205 crore. "This includes Rs 69,894 crore in loans from the Reserve Bank of India and state development, Rs 27,901 crore in GPF, Rs 14,294 crore in reserves, Rs 5,758 crore in outstanding national small savings fund, Rs 4,032 crore in negotiated loans, Rs 2,616 crore in UDAY power loans, and Rs 710 crore in Government of India advances", he said. Abdullah further said the total outstanding liability in treasuries as of February 27, 2025, under various account heads amounts to Rs 5,429.49 crore. According to the Economic Survey Report (ESR) 2024-25 tabled in the House on Thursda

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday presented a zero-deficit budget in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, announcing an outlay of Rs 1.12 lakh crore for 2025-2026 and emphasising multi-sector welfare and development of the Union Territory. Abdullah, who also holds the finance portfolio in the National Conference-led government, presented his maiden budget in the legislative assembly. Jammu and Kashmir, which was accorded the Union Territory status after Ladakh was carved out as a separate UT in 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370, has witnessed its first annual budget since 2018 when the erstwhile PDP-BJP government tabled the then state's document of annual finances. Amid thunderous applause, Abdullah began his speech with a Persian couplet and said, "I stand before you today to present my first budget as Finance Minister, marking the first budget of a collective government in seven years. While it is an honour, I am acutely aware of the weight of responsibility that comes

Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, even though he ensured a smooth house proceeding, later decried Mir's remarks and sought a clarification from party leader Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Tuesday that the government will develop pilgrim tourism circuits in Jammu to encourage pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishnodevi shrine to tour various other tourist destinations in the region. Noting that one crore pilgrims visit the Vaishnodevi shrine annually, Abdullah said if the government could divert 10 to 15 percent of these pilgrims to various destinations in the region, it would benefit the people. "As for the pilgrim tourism circuit in Jammu, we will create three, four and seven day packages. We will promote these destinations to ensure pilgrims visit all such places," Abdullah said in the assembly. Responding to a query from BJP MLA Yudhvir Sethi during the Question Hour, he said many pilgrims are unaware of the pilgrimage tourism destinations in the region. The chief minister emphasised the need to encourage pilgrims visiting Mata Vaishnodevi temple to also tour other places in the region. "It is our challenge to di

The Khelo India Winter Games 2025 will begin on March 9 in the world-renowned health resort of Gulmarg, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah launching its official website here on Monday. With fresh snowfall, Jammu and Kashmir is set to host the second leg of Khelo India Winter Games 2025 in Gulmarg from March 9 to 12, ensuring a world-class winter sports experience in one of India's premier snow destinations. "The event, initially scheduled for February 22-25, was postponed due to insufficient snowfall," an official said. The chief minister launched the official website for Khelo India Winter Games 2025 (kwig2025.com) at the Civil Secretariat here. Speaking on the occasion, Abdullah extended his best wishes to the organizers and inquired about the arrangements and the finalization of dates for the event. Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council Secretary Nuzhat Gul in her presentation said that event will now take place from March 9-12 in Gulmarg. She provided details of the schedule, incl

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah clarified that there are currently no plans for an alliance with the BJP, emphasizing the party's commitment to its own political vision."We are not talking about any alliance (with the BJP); neither is there any scope nor the need. Our thoughts also do not align. If we talk about J & K, our thoughts are vastly different... We will hold discussions on everything (during the session)," he said.Meanwhile, today, the Chief Minister addressed the first Budget session in the Jammu Kashmir Legislative Assembly.While addressing the assembly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah praised former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, highlighting his contributions to India's economic growth and key welfare initiatives."Manmohan Singh ji was born in undivided India. He went to Oxford and Cambridge and started as an officer and finance minister and then PM. When he became finance minister, our country was going through an economic crisis. Today we are the ...

PM Modi nominates Omar Abdullah, 9 others for anti-obesity campaign, urging for a nationwide movement to reduce oil consumption and promote a healthier India

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday assured the Sikhs of Jammu and Kashmir that the Omar Abdullah-led government is committed to empowering the community with a specific focus on job opportunities and education. He made the remarks at Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Jammu's Nanak Nagar where he participated in a Gurmat Samagam' organised by the Sikh Youth Welfare Association to commemorate the Prakash Ustav' of Guru Gobind Singh -- the 10th guru of the Sikhs. "The Omar government is dedicated to empowering the Sikh community with a specific focus on enhancing employment opportunities for them and their education," the former chief minister said. Emphasising the role of Sikhs in the cultural tapestry of Jammu and Kashmir, he said the community has been neglected for far too long. "Since 2014, both the central and state governments have failed to address the needs of the Sikh community, leaving them marginalised, he said, adding Sikhs have a deep-rooted history in the ...

The incident, which occurred when the bus was en route from Katra to Delhi, resulted in 17 pilgrims sustaining injuries after the vehicle fell into a gorge near the Manda area

Omar Abdullah, who is also the vice-president of the National Conference (NC), said that that Pakistan must address India's concerns to build a cooperative relationship

Jammu and Kashmir is staring at a water crisis this year due to a massive deficit in rainfall, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Wednesday, calling for a more proactive approach and collective efforts towards water management and conservation. Kashmir has witnessed a dry winter this year with an 80 per cent deficit of rainfall overall this year, raising the possibility of drought in the valley this summer. Abdullah said in a post on X, "J&K is staring at a water crisis this year. It's not a recent phenomenon, actually it's been building up for a few years now. While the government will have to adopt a more proactive approach for water management & conservation, it can't just be a government centric approach. All of us residents of J&K will have to change the way we take water for granted." The chief minister said he will review the measures being taken by the concerned department to deal with the crisis. "I'll be reviewing the measures the Jal Shakti (PHE) Dept intends .

In February, the Home Minister reviewed the implementation of these laws in a meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Maharashtra and asked him to implement these laws