Gulmarg Fashion Show Sparks Fury: Omar’s Sons at Nedous, But CM Clueless?

Srinagar: A high-profile fashion show held in Gulmarg has sparked a major controversy across Jammu and Kashmir, drawing sharp criticism from opposition parties and religious leaders, who have slammed the event as "obscene" and inappropriate during the holy month of Ramzan.

The controversy has now reached the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, where Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has sought to distance his government from the row.

As per insiders, the event, organized by “ Life Style Asia India” to mark its 15th anniversary, took place at Hotel Nedous, a property reportedly owned by Umar Nedous, a maternal cousin of National Conference (NC) patriarch Farooq Abdullah.

Sources also said Omar Abdullah’s sons, Zahir and Zamir Abdullah, “were present at the venue”, further intensifying public backlash.

Amid mounting criticism, the Chief Minister addressed the issue in the Assembly, stating that a preliminary inquiry suggests it was a private event.

“It was a private party organizing a four-day event in Gulmarg. Some people said that it should not have happened in the holy month of Ramzan, but I feel that what I saw there, leave Ramzan, it should not happen in any month of the year,” said.

“I want to make one thing clear that the government had no role in it,” he asserted. “It was a private function held at a private hotel, organized without government permission. No government infrastructure was used, nor was the administration involved,”..

Abdullah added that the authorities have been directed to conduct an inquiry and, if necessary, involve the police.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has directly accused Omar Abdullah of being aware of the event, with Jammu and Kashmir BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma challenging the Chief Minister’s claims.

“Omar Abdullah lies both inside and outside the Assembly. How is it possible that such a high-profile event was happening at a “hotel owned by his relatives”, and he had no idea? He must have organized this program himself. Now, since the people have raised this issue, he is calling for an inquiry. He should accept the truth instead of lying,” Sharma said.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti also criticized the NC led administration, alleging that it was enabling “a deliberate attempt to dilute Kashmir’s cultural identity,”.

She accused the government of selectively enforcing cultural policies, cracking down on local traditions while allowing external influences to flourish.

Kashmir’s chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, termed the event “outrageous,” stating that “obscenity in the name of tourism promotion will not be tolerated.”

Jammu and Kashmir’s Grand Mufti, Nasir-ul-Islam, labelled the show a “cultural invasion” and warned of widespread protests if immediate action was not taken.

“Kashmir has always been a land of Sufis and saints, where such activities have never been part of our tradition. Granting permission does not mean endorsing such actions,” he said.

A viral video of the event, showing models walking down a snow-covered ramp as part of an Elle India fashion show, further intensified public anger. The timing of the event, coinciding with the fasting month of Ramzan, exacerbated the controversy.

Facing mounting criticism, designer duo Shivan & Narresh, who curated the show in Gulmarg, issued an apology.

“We deeply regret any hurt caused by our recent presentation in Gulmarg during the holy month of Ramadan. Our sole intention was to celebrate creativity and the ski & après-ski lifestyle, without any desire to offend anyone or any religious sentiments,” they said in a statement.