Omar Abdullah declines to cut tricolour-style ribbon at Kashmir Haat event, netizens react

A video featuring Omar Abdullah has gone viral on social media after the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister declined to cut a ribbon designed in the colours of the Indian national flag during a public event in Srinagar.

According to a report by NDTV, the incident occurred at the ‘Know Your Artisans’ programme held at Kashmir Haat.

Abdullah, 56, was present to inaugurate the event when he noticed that the ceremonial ribbon was arranged in saffron, white, and green colours that closely resemble the Indian tricolour.

As seen in the widely circulated clip, the Chief Minister approached the ribbon but paused upon observing its design. He then instructed officials not to proceed with the ribbon-cutting. Watch the viral video below:

“Ye nahi kaat sakte hum (We cannot cut this),” Abdullah is heard saying in the video, indicating his objection to cutting something that resembled the national flag.

He further directed organisers to remove the ribbon altogether, adding, “Isko wahan se khol dijiye, dono side se khol dijiye (Please open it from there, open it from both sides),” while pointing towards the setup.

Following his instructions, the ribbon was untied instead of being cut, and the inauguration proceeded without any formal ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Abdullah was accompanied at the event by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, along with other officials.

The moment quickly gained traction online, with users across platforms sharing the clip and expressing a range of reactions.

Many social media users praised the Chief Minister’s decision, calling it a mark of respect for the national flag.

One user wrote that Abdullah showed “keen situational awareness and timely correction,” while another thanked him for “setting an example.”

Others, however, raised questions about how such a ribbon design was approved in the first place.

Several users criticised the organisers, asking whether they had overlooked the sensitivity of using tricolour-like patterns for ceremonial purposes.

A comment that gained traction read, “Who thought using the tricolour as a ribbon was a good idea? Are people in our country really this insensitive?” Another user echoed similar concerns, questioning the planning behind the event setup.

Among those reacting was Monica Verma, a PhD scholar in international relations, who also pointed out the lapse in judgment by the organisers and the importance of respecting national symbols.

The video continues to circulate widely, with the incident sparking conversations about protocol, symbolism, and the appropriate use of national colours in public events.