BJP Hits Back at Omar Abdullah Over Bribery Allegation
BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi on Saturday demanded that Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah either provide concrete evidence to back his claim that money was offered to National Conference (NC) MLAs or tender a public apology. The demand came a day after Abdullah alleged that attempts were made to lure his party legislators with monetary offers, a charge the BJP has categorically denied.
Trivedi's Sharp Retort
Speaking to reporters, Trivedi said, “Omar Abdullah should either give evidence to substantiate his allegation or apologise to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for making baseless accusations.” He asserted that the BJP does not engage in such practices and that the claim was an attempt to divert attention from the government’s failures.
The BJP leader also accused Abdullah of making the allegation to cover up his own government’s lack of performance. “Instead of focusing on governance, the Chief Minister is busy making wild allegations to stay in the news,” Trivedi added.
Background of the Claim
Earlier this week, Omar Abdullah, while addressing a public meeting in Srinagar, had stated that “money power” was being used to destabilise his government. He claimed that several NC MLAs were approached with offers of large sums of money to switch sides. However, he did not name any individuals or provide specific evidence at the time.
The National Conference has been in power in Jammu and Kashmir since the 2024 assembly elections, but the coalition government has faced frequent challenges from opposition parties, including the BJP.
Political Reactions
The BJP’s strong response has intensified the political war of words in the region. Several other BJP leaders have also criticised Abdullah, calling his allegations “irresponsible” and “unfounded.” Meanwhile, the NC has stood by its chief, with party spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq saying that the Chief Minister had “credible information” about the attempts and would reveal details at an appropriate time.
Political analysts see this as a sign of growing tension between the ruling coalition and the opposition ahead of the upcoming local body elections in the union territory. The BJP has been trying to expand its footprint in the region, while the NC is keen to consolidate its base.
