The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), unit of Jammu and Kashmir unit, has served a legal notice on the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, demanding withdrawal of his alleged remarks accusing the party of attempting to lure National Conference MLAs with money and ministerial positions.
The notice sought an unconditional public apology within seven days and warned of civil and criminal proceedings, including a Rs 100-crore defamation suit, in case of non-compliance.
According to the legal notice, Advocate Parimoksh Seth, acting on the instructions of BJP Jammu and Kashmir through Rajya Sabha MP and J&K BJP President Sat Pal Sharma, has issued the notice to the Chief Minister.
The notice stated that during a political convention in Srinagar on July 11, Abdullah allegedly claimed that BJP leaders had approached some National Conference MLAs from the Jammu region with offers of Rs 20–30 crore, ministerial berths, and restoration of statehood in exchange for switching allegiance to the BJP.
It further stated that Omar Abdullah also alleged that a senior BJP functionary, who is also a lawyer practising in the Supreme Court of India, was involved in making such offers.
The BJP, in the notice, described the allegations as “false, baseless, malicious and defamatory,” asserting that they were made without any evidence and had caused serious damage to the party’s reputation and public image.
The notice further said that the BJP is the world’s largest political party and has been serving the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that the allegations were intended to malign its image.
The BJP has demanded that Omar Abdullah withdraw the allegations in writing, issue an unconditional public apology within seven days, refrain from making or circulating any further defamatory statements, and immediately cease repeating such claims.
The notice warns that failure to comply would compel the BJP to initiate appropriate civil and criminal proceedings, including a Rs 100-crore defamation claim, besides criminal action under the relevant provisions of law.
The legal notice stated that it has been issued without prejudice to all other legal rights and remedies available to the BJP.
The BJP has strongly denied the allegations and termed them defamatory and politically motivated.
The legal notice comes a day after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while addressing a National Conference workers’ convention in Srinagar on July 11, alleged that attempts were made to destabilise the elected government.
