The Bharatiya Janata Party responded on Sunday to remarks by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. He had accused the BJP of attempting to lure National Conference legislators with financial incentives to destabilize his administration. The BJP dismissed these claims as unfounded and urged Abdullah to examine the integrity of members in his own party rather than making unsubstantiated accusations.
The exchange followed Abdullah’s comments on Saturday, where he asserted that BJP officials were employing monetary influence to create divisions within the National Conference. He mentioned offers ranging from 20 to 30 crore rupees to certain MLAs.
During a gathering at Hazratbal in Srinagar, Abdullah reiterated that the BJP sought to undermine his government by enticing his legislators. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra labeled the accusations as baseless and contrary to democratic principles. He expressed surprise at leaders questioning the loyalty of their own members and suggested introspection within the National Conference.
Another BJP leader, Sudhanshu Trivedi, described the claims as irresponsible and called for evidence or an apology. The party indicated it might pursue legal action if no apology is issued. BJP representatives also accused Abdullah of deflecting attention from governance issues in the region and asked for specific details on the alleged incidents.
