Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said there has been no discussion on a leadership change within the INDIA bloc, while praising Rahul Gandhi for his performance as Leader of the Opposition.
He was responding to a question when asked about remarks made by senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar suggesting that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should lead the INDIA bloc instead of Gandhi.
“No such meeting has been held in INDIA bloc so far, so I don’t know where this proposal is being discussed. Mani Shankar Aiyar has given his personal opinion. He has the right to give his opinion,” Omar told reporters at the ski resort of Gulmarg after the sixth edition of the Khelo India Winter Games got underway.
Omar added that expressing opinions was part of democratic discourse but stressed that any final decision would be collective.
“No one can say that Mani Shankar Aiyar does not have the right to speak. But in the end, when a decision is made, it will be that of the INDIA bloc. Everyone will discuss it together,” he said.
The Chief Minister also clarified that leadership was never on the agenda of alliance meetings.
“So far, there has been no discussion about leadership in any meeting of the INDIA bloc,” he said when asked whether he supported a change.
Backing Rahul Gandhi’s performance as Leader of the Opposition, Omar questioned the basis for such demands. “What did Rahul Gandhi lack in competing with the BJP? He is a person who always targets the BJP. He always opposes the BJP and questions the government on everything,” he said.
Calling it the fundamental responsibility of the Opposition, he added, “That is the job of the Leader of the Opposition. What more do you want from Rahul Gandhi than this.”
“Sometimes Congress does not succeed in elections. But the job of the INDIA bloc is to hold the government accountable and oppose the BJP. Where did Rahul Gandhi lack in that?” he said.
The Chief Minister said that while Gulmarg remains unmatched as a venue for winter sports in the country, changing weather patterns pose a serious challenge to the future of winter games and tourism.
“For the sixth time, Khelo India Winter Games are being organised in Gulmarg. This is the only way to know that you will not find a better place than this in this country for winter games. But it is also true that the weather conditions are changing. In February, we could never have imagined so much heat in Gulmarg. But this is the reality and we have to accept it,” he said.
The Chief Minister said future planning must take climate realities into account and emphasised the need for infrastructure that ensures reliable winter sports conditions.
Highlighting global practices, he noted that major winter sporting events now depend on artificial snow.
Referring to the Winter Olympics recently held in Italy, he said such competitions are no longer possible without snow-making technology.
“You see, no matter how many Winter Games there are in the world today, they are not possible without artificial snow. After the 1970s, it has been proven that artificial snow is needed in every Winter Olympics,” he said.
Omar stressed that Gulmarg must develop artificial snow facilities for two key purposes: strengthening winter sports competitiveness and sustaining tourism.
“Now somewhere in Gulmarg, we will have to make such facilities in both ways. One is for sports, so that one day we are also in a medal position. And the other is for tourism, because winter tourism is very important for Gulmarg,” he said.
