Ahead of the much-touted Jantar Mantar protest demanding the restoration of statehood, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday intensified his attack on the ruling BJP, alleging that the saffron party is attempting to dislodge the popularly elected government.
Omar Abdullah alleged that efforts are being made to destabilise the National Conference (NC)-led government by luring its legislators with huge monetary offers, ministerial positions, and promises linked to the restoration of statehood.
Addressing National Conference workers during the 26th death anniversary of Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah at Hazratbal to mobilise support for the July 20 Jantar Mantar protest, Omar claimed that one of the party's legislators from Jammu was offered between Rs 20 crore and Rs 30 crore, a ministerial berth, and a promise of statehood if he agreed to quit the National Conference.
"After failing to secure the people's support in the Assembly elections, the BJP is trying to break the National Conference to dislodge the popularly elected government," Omar said.
"I have been told that one of our MLAs from Jammu was offered Rs 20–30 crore, a ministerial berth, and a promise of statehood if he joined them," he added.
He accused his political opponents of attempting to engineer defections instead of respecting the people's mandate delivered in the Assembly elections.
The chief minister said the National Conference had remained patient despite repeated delays in the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood but warned that its patience should not be mistaken for weakness.
"Our patience is not our weakness. It is our strength. But if someone mistakes it for surrender, they are mistaken," he said.
Omar reiterated that the restoration of statehood remains the National Conference's foremost demand and said the party would intensify its campaign through peaceful and democratic means.
He asserted that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had given a clear mandate in the Assembly elections and deliberately kept the BJP out of power in the Union Territory.
"The people of Jammu and Kashmir have kept them away from the government. They cannot make a backdoor entry after being rejected by the people," he said.
BJP to Move Court Against Omar Abdullah's Allegations
Meanwhile, former Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina termed Omar Abdullah's allegations "completely baseless" and accused the ruling dispensation of attempting to divert public attention from its governance failures.
"These are highly misleading allegations being levelled by Omar Abdullah," Raina said, adding that the charges were devoid of any substance or factual basis.
"It has become a pattern for this administration to manufacture controversies whenever it is confronted with its own shortcomings," he said.
Referring to Omar Abdullah's earlier remarks on the Centre's assistance, Raina said, "Earlier, Omar himself said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi helped; otherwise, the Jammu and Kashmir Government would have been on its knees. He should refrain from making such statements merely to divert attention from the core issues. These allegations are far from reality."
