BJP mocks Omar Abdullah as ‘Lapataa’
As Jammu and Kashmir grapples with severe power outages and acute water shortages during the peak summer season, questions are mounting about the continued absence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah from public view, who has not been seen at any official or public function since May 13.
The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified criticism by circulating posters on social media claiming that the Chief Minister has been “missing” since May 11.
The main opposition party has gone further, appealing to the public to share any verifiable information about his whereabouts, turning the issue into a major political talking point.
Leader of the Opposition and BJP MLA Sunil Sharma is leading the attack from the front. In a strongly worded statement, Sharma said, “The people of Jammu and Kashmir are searching for their Chief Minister, who has been missing for the past 10 days. It is the misfortune of Jammu and Kashmir that on one hand, the public is struggling with power outages and water shortages, while on the other, the CM Sahib is enjoying a vacation abroad”.
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
Omar Abdullah last appeared publicly on May 13 when he chaired a meeting of the Council of Ministers in Srinagar. A detailed press note issued by the Department of Information and Public Relations highlighted several decisions taken during the meeting. However, since then, the Chief Minister has maintained a low profile, with no reported field visits, public addresses, or appearances at key government events.
Despite his physical absence, the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the Office of the Chief Minister has continued to share regular updates, creating a curious contrast between virtual governance and on-ground visibility.
Public hardships intensify
The timing of the Chief Minister’s absence has drawn sharp scrutiny as residents across the Union Territory battle extreme summer conditions. Many areas are facing prolonged power cuts, often lasting 4 to 6 hours a day, while water supply remains erratic, particularly in urban centers like Srinagar and Jammu. With temperatures soaring, the demand for uninterrupted electricity to run cooling appliances and reliable water for domestic use has become urgent. Citizens and local traders have expressed frustration over the government’s apparent lack of high-level engagement on these basic civic issues.
Demolition drive row and political fallout
Omar Abdullah’s absence became particularly noticeable during a major anti-encroachment demolition drive launched in the early hours of May 19 in Jammu’s Sidhra area. The surprise operation targeting alleged illegal constructions triggered strong protests from affected Gujjar and Bakerwal families, leading to significant political backlash.
Senior National Conference (NC) leaders, including elected representatives and the Minister in charge of the Forest Department, Javed Ahmed Rana, rushed to the site to pacify the affected communities but met with limited success. In an attempt to contain the damage, the government has ordered an inquiry into alleged violations of the Forest Rights Act during the drive.
Farooq Abdullah hits back
Reacting strongly to the BJP’s posters, National Conference president and Omar Abdullah’s father, Farooq Abdullah, dismissed the campaign on Friday. Speaking to reporters after Friday prayers at the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar, he said, “They have their own campaigns, they know what they are doing. We don’t have to answer them. They have nothing better to do.”
Farooq Abdullah also rejected rumours of any rift in the NC-Congress alliance, stating, “I think it is our enemies who are saying all this. The alliance is there; nothing will happen.”
On the demolition controversy, the NC president distanced his party and the elected government from the action, “We are not involved in that. They (the Lieutenant Governor) have done it, and an investigation is going on. It is not just in Sidhra, but also in other places in Jammu, where such attacks have taken place on Gujjars. They don’t understand that these people were the biggest sympathisers on the borders.”
Responding to accusations from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the government was following the “Yogi Adityanath model” of Uttar Pradesh, Farooq Abdullah launched a counter-attack, “They are the ones who created this mess. They ended Article 370 and 35A. They are responsible for the destruction of our state. Now they are raising a hue and cry… They took us towards destruction and are now beating the drums. They should first look within.”
Growing political heat
The BJP’s aggressive poster campaign and the opposition’s questions have put the ruling National Conference-led government under pressure at a time when an effective administrative response to civic crises is expected. With summer peaking and key public utility issues unresolved, the lack of visible leadership from the Chief Minister is becoming a central theme in J&K’s political discourse.
As of now, no official clarification has been issued by the Chief Minister’s Office regarding Omar Abdullah’s whereabouts or the reasons for his absence from the public eye since mid-May.
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