The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) firmly denied any intentions of forming an alliance with the National Conference (NC) government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah following the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections last year. The statement came during a press conference on Wednesday.
Sunil Sharma, BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly, emphasized that the party is satisfied in its role as the opposition and has no plans to ally with the National Conference in any capacity. “The BJP never offered to form a government with Omar Abdullah. If he claims so, he should show proof or stop misleading the people,” Sharma asserted, urging Abdullah to either present facts publicly or apologize to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar Abdullah, during an address in the Achabal area of Anantnag, hinted that the NC could have joined forces with the BJP in 2015, like the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) did, but resisted the idea by stating, ‘I am not ready to make that trade.’ Sharma’s sharp response to Abdullah’s claims included accusations of ‘political hypocrisy,’ pointing out that it was Abdullah who initially sought an alliance with the BJP.
“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 remarked, challenging the credibility of Abdullah’s claims.
Sharma escalated his criticism, suggesting that Abdullah and his family display “habitual lying” tendencies to create hostility against the BJP and the Central government while maintaining a different stance when in Delhi. He highlighted the dual nature of Abdullah’s political strategies, stating, “He presents shawls, has tea, and dines with ministers in Delhi, but locally asserts he won’t allow the BJP to form the government. This double-faced politics won’t work.”
In a pointed observation, Sharma related Abdullah’s recent anti-BJP rhetoric to the upcoming Budgam bypolls, suggesting that it forms part of a “toolkit to spread hatred” intended to influence voters amidst the tense political atmosphere.
The issue of statehood restoration emerged as a key topic during the conference, with Sharma indicating that people do not desire a system that could provoke unrest. He posed a question to Abdullah: “Do you want statehood for protests, killings, and shutdowns? The people of J&K want peace, not politics of violence.”
Concluding his statements, Sharma dismissed Abdullah’s assertions of lacking administrative powers, stating, “The Lieutenant Governor has approved 97 out of 97 files sent to him. Which power are you missing?” He urged Abdullah to concentrate on effective governance rather than misguiding the public.
Sharma expressed gratitude to the Central Government for the release of the 21st instalment of PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, which has benefitted 8.55 lakh farmers in Jammu and Kashmir, amounting to a transfer of ₹171 crore. This financial assistance represents a crucial support mechanism amid ongoing political disputes.
