Srinagar, Oct 08 (KNO): Leader of the Opposition (LOP) Sunil Sharma on Wednesday challenged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to name any BJP leader who offered to form a government with the National Conference, if there is any truth in his claims that he had an option of forming government with the party.
Addressing a news conference, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Sharma demanded that the Chief Minister identify the BJP leader who made such an offer if there is an iota of truth in his claims.
“Omar Abdullah is claiming everywhere that he had two options in 2024: either to form a government or to run it alone. I don’t know in which dream the BJP offered an alliance to his party. I say this with full responsibility-if any BJP leader made such an offer, he should prove it and reveal it. He is resorting to concocted stories, claiming he had the option to form a government. The BJP’s doors were shut to him then, and they remain shut now,” Sharma said.
He added that Omar Abdullah should either prove the BJP offered him an alliance or apologise for making the misleading statement.
“On one hand, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is creating hatred against the BJP in Kashmir, while on the other, he is meeting with our leaders and offering bouquets and shawls to them in Delhi,” Sharma said, adding that Abdullah’s statements reek of the height of political indecency.
Referring to Omar Abdullah’s recent statement, Sharma said it is not in his nature to push others aside for advancing career.
“I come from a poor family-a very poor family. I began my political career as a booth-level worker. I have lost elections and I have won elections. But I have never trampled anyone in my life to advance my career. I have been entrusted with this responsibility because of my commitment. I have never shoved anyone aside, nor am I in a race to compete with others,” he said.
He accused Omar Abdullah’s family of having a tradition of sidelining others for personal advancement.
“You were born into Farooq Abdullah’s family and went to Mumbai to study at the Chief Minister’s residence there. You returned and shoved aside a long list of leaders who had dedicated their lives to the National Conference. They were pushed aside, and you were crowned. This is how you trample others to build your career. You didn’t work hard nor did you struggle. The only criteria was that you were the prince of Abdullah family and son of Farooq Abdullah,” Sharma said—(KNO)