Statehood, tourism, budget to be challenges: CM Omar Abdullah

Jammu, Jan 6: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday described the J&K statehood, ensuing J&K budget session and a good, successful tourism session as major challenges for him and his government in 2026.

In a dig at the political adversary Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the demand raised by some of its (BJP’s) leaders for a separate Jammu state, he also questioned why they wanted to destroy it (Jammu) after ruining Ladakh.

Enraged over recent developments vis-à-vis the SMVDIME admission row, he called for the closure of the medical college (SMVDIME) and asked the Centre to adjust selected students in a government medical college elsewhere.

CM Omar was responding to media queries after chairing a meeting of the Public Works Department (PWD) here in Jammu this evening.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, who is also incharge PWD minister, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani and Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, besides other senior officers of PWD, were present during the meeting.

When asked what he considered the main challenge ahead for him and his government in 2026 – (restoration of statehood) or something else, CM Omar responded with a flurry of questions, summing up defining moments of 2025 with a tinge of philosophical connotation that delineated the capricious nature of the future.

“The New Year has just begun six days ago. Who knows what challenges are ahead? Last year, had anyone anticipated the Pahalgam terror attack-like incident? Had anyone guessed that the aftermath (of the Pahalgam attack) would create a nerve-wracking situation like Op (Operation) Sindoor? Or had anyone thought that the year (2025) would bring a spate of natural calamities like rain-induced ravaging floods in August-September, the aftermath of which is still haunting us, and we’re paying a heavy price for that?” he questioned.

The Chief Minister stated that on one’s part, one would only make preparations to meet any challenge ahead.

“On our part, we only get ready to take on any challenge, prepare ourselves for any exigency. Rest, how the situation will evolve in the future, none can guess – neither you nor I. Yes, on our part, as you too have mentioned, among our main challenges – J&K again becoming a state – is a persistent challenge for us. On February 2, the budget session (of J&K) will commence. The preparation of the budget and its presentation before the House, its approval from the House, will be another challenge,” CM Omar remarked, unfolding his list of challenges for 2026.

Similarly, he said, from March, J&K’s tourism season would begin.

“I anticipate a good, successful tourism season ahead for J&K this time. That is a challenge. So, the challenges will continue to be there confronting us,” the Chief Minister, who is also the Tourism Minister of J&K, said.

ON DAILY WAGERS’ ISSUE

Confronted with a query about whether there will be big news soon for the daily wagers, pinning great hopes on the ensuing budget session vis-à-vis their regularisation and other demands, CM Omar refused to make any comment.

“No, I cannot say anything on this account. What will the upcoming budget contain and what it will not have; what will be the major announcements in the budget or what will not find place in it – at present, I cannot make any comment on it. Obviously, the budget, after its finalisation, will be presented, before the House, first of all,” he responded to the query if the ensuing budget will contain a gift for the daily wagers.

ON DEMAND FOR JAMMU AS SEPARATE STATE

The Chief Minister reserved a jab for 3his political adversary BJP, when his comment was elicited about the remark of a senior BJP leader, its sitting MLA and the former minister Sham Lal Sharma advocating for Jammu as a “separate state.”

“Separating Ladakh (from J&K) and making it a Union Territory (UT), they (BJP leadership) have already ruined it. Now, if they want to destroy Jammu also by making it a separate state, let them do. They did not handle Ladakh properly. Now, why are they after Jammu to damage its cause? At some point, for sure, their politics has suffered a setback which is why they have suddenly recalled statehood for Jammu. When they were carving two UTs out of J&K – and they were the same BJP people who did it in 2019- why did they not do this job (grant statehood to Jammu) then?” was his prickly poser.

“They are not able to tackle Ladakh. Now they want to separate Jammu. On what basis? On the basis of religion? You (BJP) are free to do everything else. But why are you destroying Jammu and Kashmir? On the one hand, they accuse us (NC and others) of not taking care of J&K and its people. But, actually, these people (BJP), themselves, are engaged in destroying it (J&K),” he took a direct dig.

ON RESERVATION ISSUE

With regard to a question about the outcome of the report on the reservation, the Chief Minister again responded with a poser.

“Why are you asking me? Lok Bhavan is just 2 km away from here (Secretariat). Go and ask there. We have done our job. The Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) prepared a comprehensive report. The cabinet approved the report. The Cabinet’s decision has been sent to the Lok Bhavan for approval. Now it is up to the LG (Lieutenant Governor) Sahib to approve it or not,” he stated.

ON SANGHARSH SAMITI’S PROTEST ON SMVDIME ADMISSION ROW

The Chief Minister questioned the rationale behind Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti’s protest vis-à-vis the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) admission row. Samiti on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, held a protest outside the Civil Secretariat on the issue.

“Why are they protesting? On what issue are they protesting? Those children had secured seats in SMVDIME on the basis of their hard work and perseverance. None had obliged them (in granting seats) – neither me nor the university (SMVDU)? They (students) had cleared exams (NEET) to secure seats. But now if you don’t want to give them seats there, then adjust them (students) somewhere else,” he stated.

“None has accorded undue favour to them. They got what was legally their due. Even otherwise, I think, those students now would not like to study there (in SMVDIME), the way the situation has been created. Had I been a parent of such a student, I too would have been scared to send my ward there. Rather, I advise the parents now not to send their children there,” CM remarked in an angry tone.

In the same breath, he requested the Government of India, the Union Ministry of Health, to arrange seats for those children (who had secured seats in SMVDIME) in some government medical college somewhere else.

“We will send our children there for studies. We don’t want to send our children to study at such a place where such politics is being played out. Shut that medical college (SMVDIME). That place (SMVDIME) is not fit for opening a medical college. That (SMVDIME) does not deserve to be a medical college. Shut it and make arrangements for our children in some good government medical college. We will make arrangements for their medical studies there. We don’t want their medical college, shut it down,” an enraged Chief Minister said.

Notably, the SMVDIME’s recognition as a medical college is under clouds following the recent surprise inspection by the National Medical Commission (NMC) in the backdrop of an admission row that erupted due to the selection of a majority of non-Hindu students.

Though officially nothing has been stated yet, selectively leaked reports have suggested that the NMC has found several deficiencies in the SMVDIME, which may even face derecognition or shutdown.

CM Omar’s angry tone continued even as he encountered another query about his earlier tweet during the day, greeting J&K U-16 Cricket team players for winning the Vijay Merchant trophy for the first time.

“We view the games from the perspective of sports only. You ask this question to those who link sports with politics. Whenever they view a team, they only see the religion of the players. They cannot see anything beyond religion. When in the (J&K) football team, there were more Muslim players, then they (BJP leaders) had objections vis-à-vis the football team. When in the cricket team, the number of Muslim (players) dwindled, then their objections disappeared. In every sphere, they bring in religion – in education, sports. As far as foods and related aspects are concerned, they have exceeded their limits. Now what is left behind?” he asked when asked how he views J&K’s prospects in the sports arena.

That’s why when all their issues failed, they raised a new bogey seeking separation of Jammu, CM Omar mocked.

POLITICS IN SPORTS

With regard to a query about IPL controversy where the Bangladeshi player was sent out, the Chief Minister threw a poser, “What was the fault of that player? I may agree that our ties with Pakistan are really in bad shape. But what harm has been caused to us by the people of Bangladesh? At least, we shared normal rather good ties with the people of Bangladesh. Still, we have better ties with them. Bangladesh has not sponsored terrorism here in our country and has not created devastation here. We enjoyed good relations with them.”

“Now that player has been thrown out. This has affected the World Cup as Bangladesh has declared that they will not come to India to play here. They have asked to shift their matches of the T20 World Cup elsewhere. What is the fault of this player behind the killing of minorities there? You should take this issue with the government there,” he said, and in the same breath, he had another dig at the BJP.

“You may take a cue from Trump and do with Bangladesh what he (Trump) has done with Venezuela. Why has the player been punished? What is his fault? He was ready to play. His team (Kolkata Knightriders) were not willing to oust him. Read their statement. They were forced to oust him. Neither the player wanted to leave, nor the team wanted to send him, but pressure from above forced them to take an unwanted call. Will his (player’s) ouster change the situation in Bangladesh back to normal? Will it mend our ties with Bangladesh? It will not; rather, it will further deteriorate. Then what changed?” he threw another poser.