The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday clarified that it has no intention of joining the National Conference (NC) government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah following the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir last year. BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the J&K Assembly, Sunil Sharma, addressed a press conference where he emphasized that the party is satisfied in opposition and has no plans to ally with the National Conference.
Sharma stated, “The BJP never offered to form a government with Omar Abdullah. If he claims so, he should show proof or stop misleading the people.” He urged Abdullah to present facts publicly or apologize to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir.
Recently, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, during a visit to Anantnag’s Achabal area, claimed that the NC could have allied with the BJP back in 2015, similar to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), but he refused, asserting, “I am not ready to make that trade.”
Sharma reacted sharply to Abdullah’s remarks, accusing him of political hypocrisy. He stated, “You were the one knocking on BJP’s doors. When your offer was rejected, you started crying foul. This is the height of political shamelessness.”
He further alleged that the Abdullahs are “habitual liars”, trying to incite hatred against the BJP and the Central Government while maintaining friendly relations in Delhi.
Sharma highlighted Abdullah’s meetings with Union ministers, where he presents gifts and shares meals, contrasting this with Abdullah’s anti-BJP rhetoric in Jammu and Kashmir. “This double-faced politics won’t work,” he stated.
The LoP criticized Abdullah for using anti-BJP sentiments as part of a “toolkit to spread hatred” ahead of the upcoming Budgam bypolls.
On the topic of restoring statehood, Sharma remarked that the people do not desire a return to a political structure that cultivates unrest. “Do you want statehood for protests, killings, and shutdowns? People of J&K want peace, not politics of violence,” he expressed.
Furthermore, he dismissed Abdullah’s claims about a lack of administrative powers. “The Lieutenant Governor has approved 97 out of 97 files sent to him. Which power are you missing?” he questioned.
In conclusion, Sharma urged Abdullah to concentrate on governance rather than misleading the populace. He expressed appreciation to the Central Government for releasing the 21st instalment of PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, which transferred ₹171 crore to 8.55 lakh farmers in Jammu and Kashmir.