J&K CM Omar takes his legislators to off-limit forest destination in Srinagar to dissect 19 months of NC rule

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday (June 3, 2026) took National Conference (NC) legislators to restricted forest district Dachigam in Srinagar for review of the party’s 19-month rule in the Union Territory (UT).

“We went off-site to spend the day taking stock of the good, the bad and the in-betweens of the last 19 months,” Mr. Abdullah said.

Earlier in the day, about 45 MPs, including 42 elected representatives of the NC, gathered at Mr. Abdullah’s house. The CM provided special vehicles to take the legislators to Dachigam, a forest area that is home to hanguls, bears and leopards. Most lawmakers are offline.

Many legislators expressed surprise at the choice of venue. “I have crossed Shalimar towards an unknown destination!” NC legislator from Bijbehara, Dr. Bashir Veeri wrote an article about: X.

However, Mr. Abdullah said that he had decided on the venue in advance. “It was not changed at the last moment. It was always my intention to hold this meeting off-site and all arrangements were first made days in advance at the location chosen by me,” Mr. Abdullah said.

The meeting is being held following noises within NC. There is pressure from NC legislators to expand ministerial posts as three ministerial posts remain vacant in J&K since Mr. Abdullah’s assumption of office as Chief Minister in October 2024.

Earlier, these seats were reserved for the ally Congress, which refused to join the government. Many NC legislators said the eight-seat Sringar district was not represented in the Cabinet.

Some NC legislators are also unhappy about operating under a dual power system in which the Lieutenant Governor has significant powers. Many people accused Mr. Abdullah of not establishing the elected government’s authority over the bureaucracy.

The meeting also came at a time when former prime minister and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti wrote a letter to Mr. Abdullah seeking to “launch a united front” in J&K to pressure Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for dialogue with the people of J&K.

Mr. Abdullah said an official response will be shared on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, after discussions with party leaders.