From the snow-covered slopes of Gulmarg, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has once again voiced his strong disapproval of the division of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir, advocating for the re-merger of the Union Territory of Ladakh with Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking to reporters in the popular ski resort on Sunday, January 25, 2026, Abdullah reiterated his party, the National Conference's (NC) long-standing position on preserving the unity of the erstwhile state.
Abdullah's statement follows assertions from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary, Tarun Chugh, who affirmed that Jammu and Kashmir is a single unit and an integral part of India. Chugh also dismissed demands from BJP legislators in Jammu who have been seeking a separate state for the Jammu region. Abdullah welcomed this stance, expressing that it is "good" if the BJP does not intend to carve out a separate state for Jammu. He reminded the party that the debate surrounding the division of the region was initially sparked by BJP leaders themselves and some of their allies in Kashmir.
“It was the BJP MLAs who started this debate. How many of them should I name? We never wanted Jammu and Kashmir to be separated,” Abdullah stated, firmly rejecting claims that the National Conference fueled the demands for Jammu's separation.
Abdullah has been a consistent critic of the decision to separate Ladakh from Jammu and Kashmir, a move that took place on August 5, 2019, when the Indian government also abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution, which granted special status to the erstwhile state. He has repeatedly argued that the bifurcation has "ruined" Ladakh and led to misgovernance and neglect in the region.
“They have destroyed Ladakh. We have always been against the separation of Ladakh and we are also against the separation of Jammu," Abdullah stated, emphasizing his belief that Ladakh should once again be integrated with Jammu and Kashmir.
In early January, Abdullah had already alleged that Ladakh was "ruined" after its separation in 2019 and warned against separating Jammu from Kashmir. He accused the central government of mishandling the region and questioned the timing of renewed demands for separate statehood.
Meanwhile, in Srinagar, Omar's colleague Javed Ahmad Rana, a Cabinet Minister, also expressed the view that Ladakh would eventually be reunited with Jammu and Kashmir. Rana stated that the Indian government would have no other option in the long run and that the division of Jammu and Kashmir had undermined its political and administrative cohesion.
Abdullah's recent remarks in Gulmarg also touched upon concerns regarding recent selection results in the judiciary, where a majority of successful candidates were from the Jammu region. He cautioned against viewing such disparities through the lens of religion or regional bias, urging that merit should be the sole determining factor. He also referred to an instance where the trend was opposite in selection list for medical seats. The Chief Minister said that if there are genuine allegations of wrongdoing, the government is ready to act.
Beyond the political discourse, Abdullah also addressed the recent snowfall in the region, describing it as a "blessing" that would attract tourists and help restore the region's water table. He noted that Gulmarg had received more than two feet of snow and expressed hope that more tourists would visit, allowing the ski courses to operate properly.
