By Sunil Dutt
Jammu Tawi, March 10:
A fashion show held at Gulmarg during Ramadan has sparked widespread condemnation and outrage in Jammu and Kashmir, leading to intense debates in the Legislative Assembly. The event that held on March 7 at a private Hotel Nedous, drew fierce criticism from the political and religious leader for being scheduled during Ramadan, a time of religious observance for Muslims. The show was labelled as “obscene” and “culturally insensitive” by local legislators, who accused the government of failing to prevent such an event.
The controversy intensified when Leader of Opposition (LoP) and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma launched a direct attack on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Sharma questioned the Chief Minister’s claim of ignorance regarding the event, pointing out that the hotel where the fashion show took place was reportedly owned by a close relative of Omar Abdullah.
Sharma argued it was implausible that the Chief Minister was unaware of the event, adding fuel to the criticism that the government was attempting to distance itself from the issue.
Besides the political leaders, religious figures like Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam also condemned the event.
Mirwaiz Farooq referred to the show as an “obscene act” that contradicted the cultural and religious values of Kashmir. Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam further called on legislators to pass a bill to ban alcohol in the region, citing the fashion show as a damaging example of tourism promotion.
PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti also criticized the government for labelling the event as a “private affair,” stressing that the administration could not absolve itself of responsibility for allowing such a show to take place, especially during Ramadan.
In response to the escalating criticism, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah defended the government’s position, stating that the fashion show was a private event and not sanctioned or approved by the government. He acknowledged the public outrage and assured that an inquiry was underway to investigate whether any legal violations occurred during the event. While he said his government would have never given permission for such an event in any month of the year, his own family members, including his sons, were reportedly present at the venue. If sources are to be believed, the event was hosted at Hotel Nedous, owned by his maternal cousin, raising questions about whether his objections are truly about cultural sensitivities or merely political posturing.
Meanwhile, the designers behind the fashion show, Shivan and Naresh, issued an apology for the timing of the event. They expressed regret for any offense caused and clarified that their intention was solely to celebrate creativity and not to provoke any cultural or religious discord.
As the controversy continues to unfold, questions remain about the level of awareness and involvement of the state government, leaving many wondering whether the Chief Minister truly did not know about the controversial fashion show.
