Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the sixth edition of the Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg, Omar questioned the criticism directed at Gandhi. He said that challenging the ruling party and raising issues against the government is precisely the responsibility of the opposition leadership.
He acknowledged that the Congress may not always succeed electorally but maintained that the broader objective of the INDIA bloc is to present a united challenge to the BJP. He added that there has been no formal discussion within the alliance regarding leadership, describing recent remarks by senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar projecting Mamata Banerjee as a personal opinion.
Omar emphasised that any decision on leadership within the INDIA bloc would be taken collectively after internal discussions.
On the sidelines of the event, the Chief Minister also underlined the need to develop artificial snow facilities in Gulmarg, noting that such infrastructure has become essential for hosting international winter sporting events. He said the move would boost both sporting excellence and winter tourism in the region.
