The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has firmly denied any intention to join the National Conference (NC) government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, following last year’s assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the J&K Assembly, Sunil Sharma, made this clarification during a press conference held on Wednesday.
In his address, Sharma stated that the BJP is “content sitting in the opposition” and intends to maintain its current stance rather than allying with the NC. He challenged Abdullah’s assertions, saying, “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 urged Abdullah to either provide factual evidence of his claims or publicly apologize to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah recently indicated during an address in Anantnag’s Achabal area that the NC could have allied with the BJP in 2015, drawing a parallel with the PDP’s alliance. He remarked, “I am not ready to make that trade,” implying that joining forces with the BJP was not on the table.
Sharma reacted strongly to Abdullah’s comments, accusing him of blatant political hypocrisy. He stated, “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 Leader of Opposition further labeled the Abdullah family as “habitual liars” who attempt to incite animosity towards the BJP and the central government while cultivating friendly relations in Delhi. Sharma pointed out that Abdullah’s interactions with Union ministers, where they share meals and present gifts, contradict his public stance against the BJP.
“He presents shawls, has tea, and dines with them in Delhi, but in Jammu and Kashmir, he says he won’t allow the BJP to form the government. This double-faced politics won’t work,” asserted Sharma.
Sharma accused Abdullah of adopting anti-BJP rhetoric as a tactic to generate discontent ahead of the upcoming Budgam bypolls. He asserted that Abdullah uses such strategies to divert attention from the pressing issues faced by residents.
Addressing the ongoing discussions surrounding statehood restoration, Sharma expressed skepticism about returning to a governance structure that could lead to unrest. “Do you want statehood for protests, killings, and shutdowns? People of J&K want peace, not politics of violence,” he emphasized.
The Leader of Opposition dismissed Abdullah’s complaints regarding a lack of administrative authority, questioning, “The Lieutenant Governor has approved 97 out of 97 files sent to him. Which power are you missing?” Sharma’s remarks underscored the BJP’s stance that the current administration possesses adequate authority to govern effectively.
Concluding his statements, Sharma encouraged Abdullah to prioritize governance over misleading the people. He expressed gratitude to the Central Government for facilitating the release of the 21st installment of PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, which allocated ₹171 crore to support 8.55 lakh farmers across Jammu and Kashmir.
