JAMMU — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah launched a sharp political offensive against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the National Conference’s (NC) ‘Chalo Delhi’ rally in Jammu.
Reaffirming his party’s democratic struggle for the restoration of full statehood, the Chief Minister strongly defended the NC’s upcoming planned protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, questioning the central government’s resistance to their democratic demands.
The Statehood Demand: ‘Where Else Should We Go?’
Addressing the massive gathering, Abdullah pulled no punches regarding the BJP’s objections to the National Conference taking their agitation to the national capital:
-
The Capital Challenge: “Should we go to President Trump’s White House in America to seek our statehood? If we cannot get justice in our own country’s capital, then tell us where we should go,” Abdullah questioned, demanding that the BJP clarify where citizens should peacefully voice their constitutional demands if Jantar Mantar and Parliament are deemed off-limits.
-
The Separatism Contradiction: Responding to intense criticism from the BJP and sections of the media regarding the invitation extended to Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for the Delhi protest, Abdullah highlighted a logical gap in the Centre’s narrative. He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah frequently claim separatism has been completely wiped out from J&K. “Both cannot be true at the same time,” Abdullah argued. “Either separatism has ended in Kashmir, as the BJP claims, or the person you call a separatist proves those claims wrong.”
Allegations of ‘Operation Lotus’ in Jammu & Kashmir
The political rhetoric escalated as the Chief Minister directly accused the ruling party of attempting to destabilize the elected Jammu and Kashmir government through horse-trading:
-
Targeting Legislators: Abdullah alleged that the BJP is actively running “Operation Lotus” within the Union Territory, attempting to offer between ₹20 crore and ₹30 crore to NC MLAs to switch allegiances. BJP leadership has vehemently denied these claims, accusing the Chief Minister of misleading the public.
-
National Pattern: Abdullah asserted that this reflects a broader, systematic strategy by the BJP to weaken opposition forces across India. He pointed to previous political fragmentations in states like Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Punjab as proof. “When you fail to come to power through elections, you resort to backdoor politics,” he concluded.
The Path Forward: Despite the political friction, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah maintained that the National Conference remains committed to a peaceful, democratic struggle, urging the Union Government to fulfill its legal and constitutional commitment to restore complete statehood to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
