SRINAGAR: The BJP on Monday served a legal notice on Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, demanding an unconditional public apology within seven days over his allegation that the party tried to topple his government by offering Rs 20-30 crore to NC MLAs to switch loyalties.
The notice, issued on behalf of J&K BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Paul Sharma by Advocate Parimoksh Seth of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, warned that failure to apologise would invite legal proceedings, including a Rs 100-crore defamation suit.
According to the notice, Abdullah made "false, baseless and defamatory" allegations that BJP functionaries had approached National Conference MLAs from the Jammu region with offers of Rs 20-30 crore, a ministerial berth and restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir in return for joining the BJP.
Addressing an NC convention in Srinagar on July 11, Abdullah had alleged that a Supreme Court lawyer, who is also a BJP functionary, met one of his party's MLAs behind closed doors and offered Rs 20-30 crore, a ministerial post and restoration of statehood if he defected to the BJP.
"After greed for money and ministers did not work, BJP is now telling my MLAs in a closed room, 'Come with us and we will give you statehood'," Abdullah had said.
The BJP, in its notice, described the allegations as "entirely untrue, malicious and without any factual basis", alleging that they had caused serious damage to the party's reputation and public image.
The notice further stated that the allegations were made without any evidence and called upon Abdullah to withdraw them in writing, issue an unconditional public apology within seven days of receiving the notice, and refrain from making or circulating any further defamatory statements.
It warned that if Abdullah failed to comply, the BJP would initiate appropriate civil and criminal proceedings, including a defamation suit seeking damages of Rs 100 crore and other legal remedies available under law.