BJP Escalates Attack on Omar Abdullah, Accuses NC of Clinging to Power Amid Fresh Political Tensions
Abdullah has accused the BJP of “weaponising uncertainty” around J&K’s status for political gain, while Sharma has countered that the NC is “playing victim” to avoid accountability. These back‑and‑forths have added a new layer of tension to an already charged political environment
SRINAGAR: The political temperature in Jammu and Kashmir rose sharply on Sunday as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intensified its criticism of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the National Conference (NC), accusing the party leadership of being unwilling to relinquish power under any circumstances.
The remarks came from Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma, who launched a pointed and personal attack on the Abdullah family, alleging that their politics revolved entirely around authority, protocol and dynastic preservation rather than public interest. Sharma’s comments follow a series of recent confrontations between him and the Chief Minister, including sharp exchanges in the Assembly and on social media. In the past week, the two leaders have sparred over issues ranging from administrative downgrading to the future political structure of J&K.
Abdullah has accused the BJP of “weaponising uncertainty” around J&K’s status for political gain, while Sharma has countered that the NC is “playing victim” to avoid accountability. These back‑and‑forths have added a new layer of tension to an already charged political environment.
Speaking to reporters here, Sharma alleged that the Abdullah family would cling to power even if J&K’s administrative status were reduced further from its current Union Territory position. He claimed that the NC leadership was “greedily attached to chair and protocol” and would accept any arrangement—no matter how diminished—so long as their political privileges remained intact. According to the BJP leader, the NC’s historical conduct demonstrated a pattern of prioritising personal authority over constitutional or ideological commitments.
His remarks came just ahead of the Chief Minister’s scheduled meeting with NC legislators on June 3, a gathering expected to focus on governance and internal party cohesion. The meeting, to be held at Abdullahs’ Gupkar residence, has drawn attention because the Chief Minister has reportedly invited not only NC MLAs but also independent legislators who support the government. Sharma interpreted this outreach as an attempt to manage internal dissent and prevent fractures within the party from becoming public.
Expanding his criticism, Sharma asserted that Abdullah would not resign from any position—even a hypothetical one—if the political structure of J&K were altered in the future. He suggested that even if the region were reorganised into a Hill Council model and Abdullah were reduced to the role of an executive councillor, he would “continue to hold on to that chair.” The BJP leader framed this as part of a long-standing pattern in which the Abdullah family, in his view, has prioritised political survival over larger causes.
He further alleged that the NC leadership would be willing to accept “anything below Union Territory status” as long as their convoy size, security detail and official protocol were not reduced. According to Sharma, this willingness to compromise on constitutional questions while safeguarding personal privileges exposed the true motivations of dynastic political parties in the erstwhile state of J&K.
Sharma also broadened his attack to include both the NC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), accusing them of exploiting emotional and political issues for decades to maintain their hold on power. He argued that the political movements led by these parties were never about the welfare of the people but were instead designed to ensure that “princes and princesses of two political families” remained in positions of authority. Ordinary citizens, he said, had borne the brunt of these ambitions.
Referring again to the upcoming NC meeting, Sharma claimed that Abdullah was attempting to contain growing dissatisfaction within his party ranks. He suggested that the leadership was keen to prevent internal disagreements from surfacing publicly, especially at a time when political discussions about J&K’s future administrative structure are gaining momentum.
Reiterating the BJP’s stance, Sharma accused regional parties of misleading the public with what he described as unrealistic political promises. His remarks come amid renewed speculation about possible announcements from the NC leadership in the coming days, as well as heightened debate over the region’s governance model. The Chief Minister had on May 6 firmly dismissed speculation about possible defections from the NC, asserting that no party MLA would shift allegiance to support the BJP. While speaking at an academic function in Tangmarg, near the popular ski destination of Gulmarg, he also hinted at a significant political message he intended to deliver after Eid-ul-Azha. He explained that he was deliberately holding back because the academic setting was not suitable for political commentary. “Trust me, I want to burst like a cloudburst,” he remarked, adding that he would speak more openly at a public gathering after the festival.
