A major political controversy erupted in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir after the opposition BJP launched a digital campaign highlighting the alleged "disappearance" of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during the peak summer season, when people across the region are grappling with unscheduled power cuts and shortages of drinking water.
To mock Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP shared "missing" posters on its social media handles, seeking information about his whereabouts and claiming that he had been "missing for the last ten days".
जम्मू-कश्मीर की जनता अपने मुख्यमंत्री को खोज रही है जो पिछले 10 दिनों से लापता हैं। जम्मू कश्मीर का दुर्भाग्य है एक तरफ जनता बिजली कटौती और पानी की कमी से जूझ रही है वहीं सीएम साहब विदेश में छुट्टी मना रहे हैं। pic.twitter.com/oTiePuvKdT
— BJP Jammu & Kashmir (@BJP4JnK) May 23, 2026
Leader of Opposition (LoP) and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma also shared a video message on the party's official social media page, in which he announced that the BJP would soon lodge a missing report at Srinagar's Ram Munshi Bagh Police Station regarding the chief minister's alleged absence.
"It is unfortunate that at a time when the residents of Jammu and Kashmir are facing shortages of drinking water and unscheduled power outages, our 'prince' chief minister has been missing for the last 10 days," Sharma said in his video message.
"Nobody knows where our 'Prince' Chief Minister is spending his holidays because no official communication has been issued by the government in this regard," he said, adding, "Very soon, a missing report will be lodged at Ram Munshi Bagh Police Station in Srinagar."
Reacting to the posters, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah hit back at the BJP, saying that the saffron party had "nothing better" to do.
"They have their own campaigns; they know what they are doing. We don't have to answer them," the senior Abdullah told reporters after offering congregational prayers at the Hazratbal Shrine.
Farooq Abdullah also brushed aside rumours of a split in the alliance with the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir.
"I think it is our enemies who are spreading such rumours. The alliance remains intact, and nothing will happen," he said.
Referring to concerns over the ongoing fuel supply crisis, Abdullah expressed hope that the West Asia crisis would end soon.
"I hope the war between Iran and the US will stop, and, God willing, we will overcome these difficulties," he said.
Commenting on the controversy surrounding the recent demolition of houses belonging to Gujjar and Bakarwal families in Jammu's Sidhra area, the NC president said neither his party nor the Jammu and Kashmir government had any role in the action.
"We are not involved in that. They (the Lieutenant Governor's administration) have done it, and an investigation is underway. It is not only in Sidhra but also in other parts of Jammu where such actions have taken place against Gujjars. They do not understand that these people have been among the strongest supporters and defenders of the border areas," he said.
Responding to the opposition PDP's allegation that the Jammu and Kashmir government was following the model of Yogi Adityanath, Abdullah lashed out at the party, saying, "They are the ones who created this mess."
"They were in power when all this happened. They are responsible for the destruction of our state. Now they are raising a hue and cry. What is their job? I am saddened that they do not feel ashamed. They pushed us towards destruction and are now beating the drums. They should first introspect and see the hardships they brought upon the people here," Farooq Abdullah said.
