The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asserted on Wednesday that it never intended to form an alliance with the National Conference (NC) government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah following last year’s assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
During a press conference, BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma stated that the party finds satisfaction in its role in opposition and has absolutely no plans to ally with the National Conference.
Sharma emphasized, “The BJP never offered to form a government with Omar Abdullah. If he claims otherwise, he should provide evidence or cease misleading the public.” He demanded that Abdullah either publicly present factual proof or apologize to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah recently suggested in Anantnag’s Achabal area that the NC could have formed a coalition with the BJP in 2015, akin to the alliance with the PDP, which he declined, stating, “I am not ready to make that trade.”
Sharma sharply countered Abdullah’s remarks, accusing him of political hypocrisy: “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.”
The LoP portrayed the Abdullah family as “habitual liars”, alleging they foster an atmosphere of hatred against the BJP and the Central Government in Kashmir while maintaining friendly relations in Delhi.
Sharma referred to Abdullah’s interactions with Union ministers, stating, “He presents shawls, enjoys tea, and dines with them in Delhi, yet here in Jammu and Kashmir, he claims he won’t allow the BJP to form the government. This double-faced politics won’t work.”
Furthermore, Sharma accused Abdullah of using an anti-BJP narrative as part of a “toolkit to spread hatred” leading up to the impending Budgam bypolls.
Addressing the topic of statehood restoration, Sharma contended that the people desire not a return to a system that incites unrest. He questioned, “Do you want statehood for protests, killings, and shutdowns? The populace of J&K seeks peace, not a politics of violence.”
He further dismissed Abdullah’s claims of lacking administrative capabilities. “The Lieutenant Governor has approved 97 out of 97 files sent to him. Which authority are you missing?” Sharma challenged.
He concluded by urging Abdullah to concentrate on governance instead of attempting to mislead the public. Sharma expressed gratitude to the Central Government for releasing the 21st instalment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, totaling ₹171 crore for 8.55 lakh farmers in Jammu and Kashmir.
