BJP's Ashok Koul slams CM Omar over Gulmarg visit amid snowfall crisis

Bandipora, Jan 29: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Ashok Koul on Thursday criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accusing the NC led government of being disconnected from ground realities during a severe snowfall across Kashmir.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a BJP workers’ convention in Bandipora, Koul alleged that while large parts of the Valley were grappling with blocked roads, power outages and disruption of essential services, the Chief Minister was seen skiing in Gulmarg instead of monitoring relief and restoration work.

He said people across several districts were facing immense hardship and expected their elected representatives to remain present on the ground. Leadership, he said, demands responsibility and action during crises.

Koul also blamed past mainstream political regimes for pushing common youth into violence while ordinary citizens suffered the consequences. He claimed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has improved significantly in recent years, with peace returning and fear receding from daily life.

Referring to the killing of BJP leader Waseem Bari and his family members in 2020, Koul said it reflected a failed system of the past. He also criticised legislators from Bandipora, Sonawari and Gurez for allegedly failing to visit their constituencies during harsh winter conditions.

The BJP leader further expressed dissatisfaction over the recent budget, saying it failed to provide relief to common citizens, and reiterated that public leadership must prioritise people’s hardships over personal engagements. [KNT]