BJP serves Rs 100 crore defamation notice on Omar; CM calls it ‘love letter’
14/07/2026
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Jul 13: A political row intensified in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday after the BJP served a Rs 100 crore defamation notice on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over his allegations that the party attempted to poach National Conference (NC) legislators, with the chief minister dismissing the notice as a "love letter" from the saffron party.
The legal notice, issued through advocate Parimoksh Seth on the instructions of J&K BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Paul Sharma, describes Abdullah's allegations as "false, baseless and defamatory" and demands a written retraction and an unconditional public apology within seven days.
The controversy stems from remarks made by Abdullah while addressing NC workers at Hazratbal last week, where he alleged that the BJP was attempting to topple his government by engineering a split in the ruling party. He claimed that an NC MLA from Jammu had informed him of an offer of Rs 20-30 crore and a ministerial berth to switch allegiance to the BJP.
The BJP, however, rejected the allegations, asserting that they were entirely untrue, malicious and without any factual basis. The notice states that the chief minister's remarks have caused serious damage to the party's reputation and public standing.
The BJP has warned that if Abdullah fails to withdraw his statements and issue a public apology within the stipulated period, it will initiate civil and criminal proceedings, including a defamation suit seeking damages of Rs 100 crore.
Responding to the notice, Abdullah said he considered it an honour and described it as a "love letter" from the BJP.
"I consider this a great honour as I am the only politician in Jammu and Kashmir to have received such a love letter from the BJP. It is a mark of respect that they consider me a political force they cannot ignore," he told reporters in Srinagar.
The chief minister said he had expected a political response to his political remarks but alleged that the BJP had instead chosen to fight the issue through legal means.
Abdullah also said several BJP leaders had made allegations against the National Conference and its leadership in recent months. He indicated that the NC would now begin issuing legal notices to certain BJP leaders over what he termed defamatory statements.
The BJP's legal notice calls upon Abdullah to refrain from making or repeating similar allegations in future, failing which it said appropriate legal action would be pursued before a competent court.
Share This Story |
|
Comment On This Story |
|
|
|
|