Omar Abdullah skips Paris event amid apple crisis, says order leak intended to ‘embarrass’

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday confirmed that he will not be attending the upcoming international tourism promotional event in Paris, which begins on Tuesday. His announcement comes amid a social media uproar in the Valley over his proposed visit to Paris for the IFTM Top Resa 2025, a prominent global tourism trade fair scheduled to be held from September 23–25.

Speaking to The Tribune, the Chief Minister clarified that he had neither applied for a visa nor booked a ticket for the event. “The proposal came from the department, based on recommendations from tourism industry stakeholders, and was processed in the usual manner,” Omar said.

Controversy erupted last week after an order issued by the J&K General Administration Department (GAD) approving an official delegation to Paris—led by the Chief Minister—surfaced on social media. The order stated that the visit was “subject to clearances from the concerned ministries of the Government of India and fulfilling the codal formalities.”

The proposal drew criticism from various quarters, particularly in light of the ongoing crisis in the horticulture sector caused by the prolonged closure of the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway. Many questioned the timing of the foreign visit as fruit growers faced massive losses during the peak harvest season.

The leaked order had named the Chief Minister, his Advisor Nasir Aslam, and the Director Tourism, Jammu, as part of the proposed delegation. Interestingly, the order was not available on the GAD’s official website, raising further questions about its selective circulation.

Omar, who also holds the tourism portfolio, claimed that the leak was “clearly designed to cause embarrassment.”

“There were two orders—one naming my advisor and me, and another listing the officers proposed for the Paris trip. Only the one with our names was leaked, while the other remained confidential,” he said.

He also dismissed speculation that his decision not to attend the event was influenced by public backlash on social media. “My not attending has nothing to do with the fuss that was made online,” Omar asserted.

As of Monday evening, it remained unclear who will officially represent Jammu and Kashmir at the Paris event. However, the IFTM Top Resa website lists the J&K Department of Tourism among the participating exhibitors.

Following last week’s controversy, Omar Abdullah also voiced his disappointment with the Valley’s tourism stakeholders during a separate tourism event held in Gulmarg, where he expressed frustration over the lack of support he received online. “You all remained silent. When you were in trouble, I raised my voice. But when I was abused, no one stood up for me,” he told the gathering on Thursday, describing the Paris visit as a routine tourism promotional trip, not a “luxury” tour.