The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unequivocally denied any intent to join National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah‘s government in Jammu and Kashmir following last year’s assembly elections. This statement emerged during a press conference on Wednesday, where BJP’s Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma reiterated the party’s commitment to serve in the current opposition role.
Sharma emphasized, “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 called upon Abdullah to either substantiate his claims or apologize to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir.
Recently, during an address in Anantnag’s Achabal region, Chief Minister Abdullah mentioned that the NC could have allied with the BJP in 2015, similar to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), but opted against it, stating, “I am not ready to make that trade.”
Sharma sharply criticized Abdullah’s remarks, labeling them as political hypocrisy. He exclaimed, “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.”
He further described Abdullah and his family as “habitual liars”, accusing them of fostering hatred against the BJP and the Centre in Kashmir while maintaining cordial relations in Delhi. Sharma pointed out, “He presents shawls, has tea, and dines with Union ministers in Delhi, but in Jammu and Kashmir, he claims he won’t allow the BJP to form the government. This double-faced politics won’t work.”
In the backdrop of the upcoming Budgam bypolls, Sharma accused Abdullah of utilizing anti-BJP rhetoric as a tactic to incite discord. He questioned Abdullah’s stance on statehood restoration, asserting that the residents of Jammu and Kashmir desire peace, not a return to the systems that fuel unrest. He stated, “Do you want statehood for protests, killings, and shutdowns? People of J&K want peace, not politics of violence.”
Additionally, the Leader of Opposition challenged Abdullah’s assertions about a lack of administrative powers in Jammu and Kashmir. He remarked, “The Lieutenant Governor has approved 97 out of 97 files sent to him. Which power are you missing?”
In conclusion, Sharma urged Abdullah to shift focus from political narratives to effective governance. He expressed gratitude to the Central Government for the recent release of the 21st installment of PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, which allocated ₹171 crore to benefit 8.55 lakh farmers in Jammu and Kashmir, reinforcing the importance of agricultural support in the region.
