Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of indulging in “blackmail politics” over the issue of restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, while asserting that the ruling National Conference (NC) remained united and stable.
Responding to remarks made by the Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly, Abdullah dismissed speculation about internal divisions within the NC and said there was “no Eknath Shinde in the National Conference,” indicating that none of the party legislators would defect or destabilise the government.
“It is obvious that the Leader of Opposition is impatient to sit on the chair of Jammu and Kashmir’s minister,” the Chief Minister told reporters.
Referring to the debate surrounding the recent delimitation exercise in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah alleged that the process was carried out primarily to politically benefit the BJP and its allies.
“We suffered their delimitation and we know about delimitation. It was done only to benefit BJP and BJP’s friends,” he said.
The Chief Minister clarified that the delay in expansion of his council of ministers was not linked to political instability or fear within the ruling alliance, but to Jammu and Kashmir’s continued status as a Union Territory.
“Cabinet expansion has stopped because we have not been given the status of a state. Cabinet expansion has not stopped because of fear,” Abdullah said.
He further accused the BJP of attempting to obstruct the functioning of the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir and using the issue of statehood as a political tool.
“Through such statements, the BJP is proving that until it forms a government here, it will neither allow us to function properly nor restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Abdullah alleged that the people of Jammu and Kashmir were being “threatened in the name of statehood” and said voters who supported the BJP should recognise what he described as the party’s “blackmail politics.”
The Chief Minister also referred to past Supreme Court observations and constitutional conventions regarding government formation, saying the single-largest party should always be given an opportunity to form the government and prove its majority on the floor of the House.
“There is no reason to stop this process. BJP should be allowed to form a government. If they prove their majority in the Assembly, they will remain. If they fail to prove it, they will have to resign,” he said.
