A fashion show held at Gulmarg during Ramzan drew intense criticism from political leaders, which caused both cultural value disputes and a major stir throughout Jammu and Kashmir.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holds that Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah maintains connections to the event. Sunil Sharma, who leads the BJP party in the state, made the accusations stronger by revealing that the hotel hosting the event belongs to Abdullah’s family members. Sharma accused the chief minister of lying by stating, “Omar Abdullah lies both inside the Assembly and outside. Such a major public event occurring in a hotel belonging to your family members makes it impossible to understand why you were unaware of its existence.
Omar Abdullah stated the private function involved no participation from government departments. According to Sharma the function obtained its short-term excise license from the department, which proves authorities were fully aware of the event. People began to question how the government orphanage approved such a function during Muslim holy month.
Mehbooba Mufti Condemns the Event
Mehbooba Mufti, currently serving as the People’s Democratic Party’s chief minister and former leader, declared the fashion show deplorable because it attacked traditional Kashmiri values. According to Mufti, it is a major worry for our culture that private hoteliers are allowed to sponsor these activities since they clearly violate Kashmiri cultural norms. The government holds accountability for this matter despite its effort to distance itself from this issue by classifying it as private.
Political and Cultural Backlash
The controversy gained momentum after videos and images from the event surfaced online, sparking outrage among various sections of society. Religious and cultural groups criticized the fashion show for being inappropriate during Ramzan, a month considered sacred by Muslims worldwide. The opposition has used this incident to question the government’s stance on upholding Kashmiri traditions and cultural sentiments.
As the political firestorm continues, the incident has raised broader concerns about the role of private enterprises in hosting events that may conflict with religious and cultural sensitivities. Whether this controversy will lead to further government intervention or policy changes remains to be seen, but for now, it has become a focal point of political debate in Jammu and Kashmir.