The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday issued a clear statement denying any intention to join the National Conference (NC) government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, emphasizing their position in the opposition following last year’s assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
During a press conference, BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the J&K Assembly, Sunil Sharma, asserted that the party was content with its current stance and had no plans to ally with the National Conference.
“The BJP never offered to form a government with Omar Abdullah. If he claims otherwise, he must provide evidence or cease misleading the people,” Sharma said. He challenged Abdullah to publicly present facts or issue an apology to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated in Anantnag’s Achabal area that the NC could have forged an alliance with the BJP in 2015, akin to the PDP’s partnership, but opted against it, reasoning, “I am not ready to make that trade.”
In response, Sharma criticized Abdullah for what he termed political hypocrisy. “You were the one seeking ties with the BJP. After your recent overtures were snubbed, you began to play the victim. This reflects an astonishing level of political shamelessness,” he remarked.
Sharma further accused the Abdullahs of being “habitual liars” who attempt to foster animosity against the BJP and the Central government in Kashmir while maintaining cordial relations in New Delhi.
“Abdullah frequently meets with Union ministers, sharing shawls, tea, and meals with them in Delhi, yet here he states he will never permit the BJP to form the government. This double-faced politics will not succeed,” Sharma asserted.
The Leader of Opposition also condemned Abdullah’s use of anti-BJP rhetoric, labeling it as a part of a “toolkit to spread hatred” ahead of the upcoming Budgam bypolls.
Addressing the pressing issue of statehood restoration, Sharma underscored that the public does not desire a return to a system fostering unrest. “Do you want statehood for protests, killings, and shutdowns? The people of J&K seek peace, not violent politics,” he asserted.
Sharma dismissed Abdullah’s claims of lacking administrative powers, stating, “The Lieutenant Governor has approved 97 out of 97 files sent to him. What power do you now claim to be missing?”
He urged Abdullah to “focus on governance instead of fooling people” and took a moment to express appreciation for the Central Government‘s timely release of the 21st instalment of PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, amounting to ₹171 crore for 8.55 lakh farmers in Jammu and Kashmir.
