A political controversy has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly criticized former chief minister Omar Abdullah for his comments on the newly renamed rural employment guarantee scheme. The BJP accused Abdullah of ridiculing people's faith, escalating a war of words that began over the scheme's unconventional name.
BJP's Strong Objection to CM's Comments
On Monday, BJP spokesperson Abhijeet Jasrotia held a press briefing where he launched a sharp attack on Omar Abdullah. Jasrotia stated that the former chief minister, who holds a constitutional post, should have exercised restraint and refrained from making comments on the name of the scheme. Describing the issue as a matter of faith, the BJP spokesperson expressed strong objection to Abdullah's remarks, asserting that such behavior would not be tolerated.
"The chief minister should not make jokes about the name. We strongly object to this and will not tolerate it," Jasrotia declared. He emphasized that individuals in high public office must be particularly careful when discussing matters linked to religious sentiment and faith.
The Trigger: Omar's 'Ji Mummy Ji' Jibe
The row started on Saturday when Omar Abdullah publicly questioned the central government's decision to rename the flagship Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The scheme has been rebranded as Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), abbreviated as VB-G RAM G.
Expressing his surprise at the nomenclature, Abdullah had said, "First of all, I am surprised where this name came from. Who names a bill as G RAM G?" He went a step further, drawing a parallel to a Bollywood film by stating that the name reminded him of the movie 'Ji Mummy Ji'. Additionally, he criticized the removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the employment scheme, which has been a cornerstone of rural welfare for years.
BJP Invokes Family Legacy and Defends Renaming
In his counterattack, BJP's Jasrotia reminded Omar Abdullah of his own family's historical associations with religious traditions. He pointed out that the Abdullah family has had longstanding connections with cultural traditions linked to Lord Ram.
"His father, Farooq Abdullah, has publicly sung bhajans dedicated to Lord Ram. The chief minister should respect such traditions within his own family," Jasrotia added, suggesting that Omar's comments were a departure from his familial heritage.
Defending the government's decision to rename the scheme, the BJP spokesperson argued that welfare initiatives aimed at ensuring dignity of labour and livelihood security are perfectly aligned with Mahatma Gandhi's ideals. He elaborated that Gandhiji was a champion of empowering the weakest sections of society, and any program that guarantees work and food security reflects that core vision.
"If in Gandhi's time the scheme would be renamed as such, he would have been happy about it," Jasrotia concluded, framing the rebranding as a tribute to Gandhi's principles rather than an erasure of his legacy.
The incident highlights the increasingly sensitive intersection of policy, politics, and perceived religious sentiment in India's public discourse. It also underscores the ongoing political tensions in Jammu and Kashmir, where statements from prominent leaders are often scrutinized and can quickly escalate into major controversies.
