The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has firmly stated that it never intended to ally with the National Conference (NC) led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah following the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir last year. During a press conference held on Wednesday, BJP’s Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the J&K Assembly, Sunil Sharma, emphasized the party’s position in the opposition and dismissed any possibility of forming a government with Abdullah.
Sharma pointedly remarked, “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 urged Abdullah to either reveal the facts publicly or apologize to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a recent address in Anantnag’s Achabal area, Omar Abdullah suggested that the NC could have partnered with the BJP in 2015, similar to the alliance formed with the PDP, but declined the offer, asserting, “I am not ready to make that trade.”
BJP’s Sunil Sharma reacted sharply to Abdullah’s comments, accusing him of political duplicity. He stated, “You were the one seeking an alliance with BJP. When your recent overtures were rebuffed, you began complaining. This is the pinnacle of political shamelessness.”
In his remarks, Sharma labeled the Abdullahs as “habitual liars”, alleging they perpetuate hostility against the BJP and the central government while maintaining friendly relations in Delhi.
Sharma highlighted Abdullah’s visits to meet Union ministers in Delhi, saying, “He presents shawls and enjoys tea with them while publicly claiming he won’t let the BJP form the government. This kind of double-faced politics is unsustainable.”
Addressing the upcoming Budgam bypolls, Sharma accused Abdullah of employing strong anti-BJP rhetoric as a strategic means to incite division and contempt within the community.
When discussing the contentious issue of statehood restoration, Sharma questioned the rationale behind such demands, stating, “Do you want statehood for protests, killings, and shutdowns? The people of Jammu and Kashmir desire peace, not a return to violent political practices.”
The LoP contested Abdullah’s claims that the government lacked administrative authority, highlighting that, “The Lieutenant Governor has approved all 97 files sent to him. What powers are you missing?”
Sharma concluded the press conference by appealing to Abdullah to concentrate on effective governance rather than attempting to mislead the public. He also expressed gratitude toward the Central Government for the recent release of the 21st instalment of PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, which transferred ₹171 crore to support 8.55 lakh farmers in Jammu and Kashmir.
