Omar Abdullah Denies BJP Alliance Claims: "I Swear On Quran I Never Approached BJP for Statehood"

Omar Abdullah has firmly denied BJP's allegations that he approached them for a political alliance in 2024.

Srinagar:

On Sunday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah categorically rejected allegations from the BJP claiming that he had sought an alliance with the central ruling party in 2024 to restore statehood.

"I swear on the Holy Quran that I didn't seek an alliance with the BJP in 2024 for Statehood or for any other reason. Unlike Sunil Sharma, I don't tell lies for a living," Abdullah declared in a statement posted on X.

The chief minister was responding to assertions made by Sunil Sharma, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, who alleged that Abdullah had approached the BJP in Delhi, expressing willingness to form an alliance in exchange for statehood restoration.

Sharma previously claimed that Abdullah had also approached the BJP in 2014 seeking to form a coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir following inconclusive election results.

"In 2024, he again went to Delhi and offered to form the government with the BJP if the statehood was restored. His offer was rejected, and he was told that we have been given a mandate to sit in the opposition. You (Abdullah) should go to a mosque or a religious place, take the holy Quran in your hand and swear that you did not go to Delhi for government formation. He (Abdullah) won't do it... But we are ready to say on oath wherever you want," Sharma told reporters after an election meeting in Budgam.

Abdullah has been consistently criticizing the ruling party at the Centre recently, emphasizing that only his National Conference is actively opposing the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier that day, while addressing an election rally supporting BJP candidate Syed Mohsin in Budgam, Sharma had challenged Abdullah to publicly confirm that there were no secret agreements with Delhi.

Sharma claimed that following the 2014 assembly elections, Abdullah had attempted to form an alliance with the BJP. "However, our leadership, guided by principles and national integrity, refused such opportunistic overtures," Sharma stated.

He further accused the National Conference (NC) of employing deception and double standards to impede the BJP's growing influence in Kashmir. "The NC is leaving no stone unturned to block the wave of change, but people have seen through their politics of hypocrisy," he added.