Omar Abdullah Alleges BJP Offered MLA ₹30 Cr to Defect
J&K Chief Minister claims National Conference legislator was promised money, ministerial post and statehood
- Omar Abdullah alleges BJP offered an NC MLA ₹20-30 crore to switch sides.
- Claims offer included a ministerial berth and promise of J&K statehood.
- BJP dismisses allegations as baseless and seeks evidence.
- Omar questions delay in restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
GG News Bureau
Jammu, 11th July: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday alleged that a National Conference (NC) MLA from the Jammu region was offered ₹20-30 crore, a ministerial berth and an assurance of the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood to persuade him to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Addressing a public gathering in Srinagar, Abdullah claimed that the alleged offer was made by a Supreme Court lawyer associated with the BJP during a closed-door meeting with the legislator. He said the MLA later informed him personally about the alleged proposal.
The Chief Minister alleged that the move was an attempt to weaken the democratically elected government in the Union Territory. He asserted that National Conference legislators were not for sale and would remain committed to the mandate given by the people.
Reacting to the allegations, senior BJP leader Ravinder Raina dismissed the claims as “baseless, misleading and devoid of facts.”
“If the Chief Minister has any proof, it should be placed in the public domain,” Raina said.
Abdullah also questioned the Centre over the continued delay in restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, saying nearly 18 months had passed since the formation of the elected government but the commitment remained unfulfilled.
He said his government had adopted a path of dialogue rather than confrontation and had given the Centre adequate time to honour its promise.
Recalling the Centre’s roadmap for normalising the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said the process had begun with the delimitation exercise. He alleged that the exercise was carried out despite similar exercises not being conducted in most other parts of the country and claimed it was designed to benefit a particular political party and its allies.
Despite reservations over delimitation, he said the National Conference accepted the process in good faith, expecting that restoration of statehood would follow.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir are still waiting for the Centre to honour its word,” Abdullah said, reiterating that full statehood is the democratic right of the people and urging the Union Government to fulfil its commitment without further delay.
