Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday (April 15, 2026) refused to cut an inaugural ribbon in saffron, white and green stripes, instead untying it and handing it to the organisers with the instruction that it be folded and kept with respect.
Mr. Abdullah was inaugurating the 'Know Your Artisans' event at the Kashmir Haat in Srinagar. In a moment that was captured by camera crews and quickly went viral on social media platforms, the Chief Minister was seen walking towards the ribbon stretched across and then stopping short as he noticed the tricolours.
He was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, his advisor Nasir Aslam Wani and a host of others.
The ribbon dispensed with, Mr. Abdullah went on with the rest of the proceedings at the Kashmir Haat in the heart of the city.
The gesture of not cutting the ribbon won him widespread praise on social media platforms.
