In a candid assessment during the Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah spotlighted the freak February warmth disrupting traditional snow sports. He lauded the venue’s unmatched appeal but warned of evolving weather patterns necessitating innovative solutions.
Hosting the event for the sixth straight year marks a milestone, yet Abdullah didn’t shy from the crisis. ‘Such heat in peak winter defies norms. We must confront this head-on,’ he declared to gathered media.
Referencing international precedents, he highlighted Italy’s Cortina Olympics concluding sans natural snow, propped by artificial means. ‘Post-1997, artificial snow has been indispensable for all Winter Olympics. Gulmarg needs these facilities to sustain sports excellence and boost tourism,’ he explained.
The CM envisioned enhanced winter tourism infrastructure, crucial for local economies. Shifting to politics, he refuted rumors of INDIA bloc leadership huddles involving Mamata Banerjee, insisting no formal meetings happened. On Mani Shankar Aiyar’s comments, he advocated for internal consensus first.
Praising Rahul Gandhi’s BJP critiques, Abdullah remarked, ‘He’s consistently challenging the government nationwide. That’s precisely what an opposition leader should do.’
With competitions underway despite thin snow cover, Abdullah’s remarks signal a proactive stance, merging environmental adaptation with political clarity for Jammu and Kashmir’s vibrant future.