Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party has issued a legal notice to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. It demands retraction of his statements accusing the party of offering money and posts to National Conference legislators. The notice requires a public apology within seven days or faces civil and criminal action, including a Rs 100-crore defamation suit.
Advocate Parimoksh Seth issued the notice on instructions from Rajya Sabha MP and state BJP president Sat Paul Sharma. Opposition leader Sunil Sharma and legislator Ranbir Pathania had earlier indicated such a step.
The notice refers to remarks made by Abdullah at a July 11 convention in Srinagar. He allegedly said BJP leaders offered Rs 20-30 crore, ministerial positions and statehood restoration to some NC MLAs from Jammu to switch sides. It also mentions a senior BJP functionary and Supreme Court lawyer as involved.
The BJP called the claims false, baseless and defamatory, made without evidence and damaging to its reputation. It described itself as the world’s largest party serving under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The notice demands written withdrawal of the allegations, a public apology within seven days, and an end to further statements. Non-compliance would lead to legal proceedings including the defamation suit and criminal charges.
The notice reserves all other legal rights. It follows Abdullah’s July 11 address to NC workers where he repeated claims of attempts to destabilise his government by approaching MLAs with cash offers, berths and statehood assurances.
The BJP has rejected the allegations as politically motivated. In the 90-member assembly the party holds 29 seats and would need 17 more to form a government. At the alleged rates this would require hundreds of crores.
Sunil Sharma dismissed the claims in media interviews, calling them lies and saying many NC legislators would switch without payment due to dissatisfaction with the Abdullah family’s long rule. He accused Omar Abdullah of using the issue to mask unfulfilled promises on LPG cylinders, jobs and power supply, and of fearing local body elections.
