The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) firmly stated on Wednesday that it has never intended to join the government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of the National Conference (NC). This revelation follows the assembly elections held in Jammu and Kashmir last year.
At a press conference, BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the J&K Assembly, Sunil Sharma, emphasized that the BJP is “content sitting in the opposition.” He declared, “We have no plans to ally with the National Conference.”
Sharma challenged Abdullah’s previous claims about potential BJP collaboration, stating emphatically, “The BJP never offered to form a government with Omar Abdullah. If he claims so, he should show proof or stop misleading the people.” He urged the Chief Minister to either “present facts publicly or apologize to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Omar Abdullah, during a recent address in Anantnag’s Achabal area, hinted at a lost opportunity for collaboration, asserting that the NC could have allied with the BJP in 2015, similar to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). However, he expressed his refusal with a firm, “I am not ready to make that trade.”
In a sharp retort, Sharma labeled Abdullah’s comments as political hypocrisy. He remarked, “You were the one knocking on BJP’s doors. When your recent offer was rejected, you started crying foul. This is the height of political shamelessness.”
Sharma further accused the Abdullah family of being “habitual liars,” alleging they foster animosity against the BJP and the central government in Kashmir while engaging with them in Delhi. He stated, “He presents shawls, has tea, and dines with them in Delhi, but in Jammu and Kashmir, he says he won’t allow the BJP to form the government. This double-faced politics won’t work.”
The LoP went on to accuse Abdullah of employing anti-BJP rhetoric as part of a calculated strategy meant to incite hatred ahead of the upcoming Budgam bypolls.
Addressing the contentious issue of statehood restoration, Sharma questioned whether Abdullah advocates a return to a system that perpetuates unrest. “Do you want statehood for protests, killings, and shutdowns? People of J&K want peace, not politics of violence,” he remarked decisively.
Sharma dismissed Abdullah’s claims of lacking administrative powers, stating, “The Lieutenant Governor has approved 97 out of 97 files sent to him. Which power are you missing?”
In closing, the Leader of Opposition urged Abdullah to “focus on governance instead of fooling people.” He expressed gratitude to the Central Government for releasing the 21st installment of PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, which successfully transferred ₹171 crore to 8.55 lakh farmers in Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting ongoing support for the agricultural community.
