The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) categorically denied any intention to join the National Conference (NC) government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. This announcement came during a press conference on Wednesday, clarifying the party’s stance following the assembly elections held last year in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the media, BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the J&K Assembly, Sunil Sharma, emphasized that the BJP remained satisfied sitting in the opposition. He firmly stated, “We have no plans to ally with the National Conference.”
Sharma challenged Abdullah’s recent claims, insisting that the BJP never offered to form a government. “If he claims so, he should show proof or stop misleading the people,” he remarked. The LoP called for Abdullah to publicly present facts or apologize to the populace of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a previous statement in Anantnag’s Achabal area, Abdullah suggested that the NC might have allied with the BJP in 2015, akin to the coalition formed with the PDP, but he refused, stating, “I am not ready to make that trade.” This sparked a quick response from Sharma.
“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 retorted, accusing Abdullah of engaging in political hypocrisy.
The allegations escalated as Sharma labeled the Abdullah family as “habitual liars” who incite resentment against the BJP and the Centre while maintaining amicable relationships in Delhi. He cited Abdullah’s meetings with Union ministers, claiming, “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.”
Sharma also suggested that Abdullah used anti-BJP rhetoric strategically to influence voters ahead of the Budgam bypolls, asserting, “This toolkit to spread hatred only aims to create divisions as elections approach.”
Addressing the contentious subject of statehood restoration, Sharma reiterated the notion that citizens do not desire a return to a system that precipitates disorder. “Do you want statehood for protests, killings, and shutdowns? The people of J&K want peace, not politics of violence,” he observed.
In response to Abdullah’s assertions regarding a lack of administrative power, Sharma refuted the claims, stating, “The Lieutenant Governor has approved 97 out of 97 files sent to him. Which power are you missing?”
He concluded his statements by urging Abdullah to concentrate on governance rather than misleading the public. In a positive note, Sharma expressed gratitude to the Central Government for releasing the 21st installment of PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, which transferred ₹171 crore to 8.55 lakh farmers in Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting the government’s ongoing support for local farmers.