BJP Serves ₹100-Cr Defamation Notice to Omar Abdullah Over MLA Poaching Claims

According to the legal notice issued by Advocate Parimoksh Seth on behalf of BJP J&K President and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Paul Sharma, the Prime Minister must retract his statements in writing and issue an unconditional public apology within seven days. The party alleges that Abdullah’s speech at the memorial rally held next to the grave of his grandmother Begum Akbar Jehan on her 26th death anniversary in Naseem Bagh over the weekend seriously damaged the party’s reputation, respect and public standing. The BJP maintains that the allegations, widely circulated in print, electronic and social media, have damaged the image of the party, which it describes as the “largest political party in the world” with 14 crore registered members.

The controversy began when Abdullah alleged that a Jammu-based NC MLA had informed him about the approach of a Supreme Court lawyer “close to the BJP”; This lawyer allegedly offered a ministerial berth between ₹20 crore and ₹30 crore and even a promise to restore the state in exchange for changing allegiance. Abdullah also alleged that another BJP functionary was similarly trying to woo NC legislators in Jammu region with financial and political incentives. He framed these alleged attempts as efforts to destabilize the elected government and undermine the authority of the people.

The BJP categorically denied the allegations and said they were politically motivated and completely devoid of evidence. Sharma demanded Abdullah either reveal the identity of the BJP leader allegedly involved in the incident or apologize for making false allegations. BJP MLA RS Pathania reiterated this stance, arguing that allegations of bribery against elected representatives are extremely serious and must be supported by credible evidence. He questioned why no formal complaint or FIR was lodged if any MLA was actually approached and urged the Chief Minister to produce evidence before J&K Police, Anti-Corruption Bureau or any competent authority.

Pathania also accused Abdullah of trying to divert attention from governance issues and internal criticism within the ruling alliance. He claimed that at a recent meeting in Srinagar’s Dachigam, some MPs from the ruling party had themselves raised concerns about corruption within the government. He stressed that if Abdullah fails to prove his allegations or make a public apology, the BJP will strongly protect its reputation and take all legal action, including defamation cases and criminal cases.

The legal notice urges Abdullah to immediately desist from making or repeating defamatory statements against the BJP and warns that failure to comply will force the party to initiate civil and criminal proceedings, including a ₹100-crore defamation case. It emphasizes that the notice is published without prejudice to any other legal rights and remedies available to the party.

The clash marks a sharp rise in political tensions in J&K, with both sides holding firm to their positions. As the seven-day deadline approaches, the Union Territory’s political landscape is poised to evolve further.

Significantly, this standoff took place at a time when the NC was heavily preparing for a massive rally at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20, coinciding with the opening of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The event is expected to be the party’s most significant mobilization to restore J&K’s statehood so far. Through its nationwide outreach campaign, the NC is trying to bring together a broad coalition of regional parties, national leaders, civil society groups, business organizations and religious representatives from across the country.

The NC maintains that the demonstration is aimed at increasing pressure on the Union Government to fulfill its commitments and restore J&K’s statehood. The NC also extended an invitation to the BJP to attend the rally, framing the event as a collective platform where all political stakeholders could voice their positions on the state issue. But the BJP rejected the invitation outright, dismissing the initiative as politically motivated and accusing the NC of trying to revive narratives that it believed had already gone beyond the region.

The NC’s decision to invite Kashmir’s chief Muslim cleric Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq to the July 20 rally drew sharp criticism from the BJP, which accused the party of legitimizing elements associated with separatist politics. The invitation became the focal point of an escalating political conflict, adding a new layer of contention to an already tense atmosphere.

Prime Minister Abdullah on Sunday strongly defended the move, asserting that the NC’s outreach to Mirwaiz Umar was both deliberate and justified. He alleged that the BJP was fabricating arguments to distract from the main objective of the agitation: restoration of the statehood of J&K. According to Abdullah, the rally is intended to serve not as a battleground for partisan conflict but as a broad democratic mobilization aimed at fulfilling repeated assurances regarding the restoration of the state.

The Prime Minister, who is also the vice-chairman of the NC, emphasized that his party is carrying out an extensive publicity campaign by inviting political parties, religious leaders, civil society groups, business organizations and other stakeholders in order to create the broadest possible consensus around the demand. He argued that Mirwaiz Umar’s inclusion should not be viewed through a narrow political lens, describing him as a prominent religious figure who represents a significant section of J&K’s population. He said that the invitation reflects an inclusive strategy that aims to unite different segments of society around a common constitutional and democratic goal.

Reiterating that restoration of the state transcends political affiliations and ideological divides, Abdullah asserted that the issue concerns every resident of J&K. For him, the movement’s strength lies in its ability to bring together voices from across the social and political spectrum, signaling a collective push for the long-promised constitutional commitment.