SRINAGAR: Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has sworn on the Holy Quran, denying claims by senior J&K BJP leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma that he sought an alliance with the BJP in 2024 to secure statehood.
“I swear on the Holy Quran that I didn’t seek an alliance with the BJP in 2024 for statehood or for any other reason. Unlike Sunil Sharma, I don’t tell lies for a living,” Omar posted on X, formerly Twitter.
The CM was responding to allegations made by Sharma during poll campaigning in Budgam, where the LoP dared him to swear that he had no secret dealings with Delhi. Sharma claimed that after the 2014 elections, Omar had attempted to ally with the BJP, but NC leadership refused such overtures.
Sharma further alleged that in 2024, following the Assembly polls, Omar approached the centre seeking statehood and offered to form a government with the BJP, only to be turned down.
In the 2024 J&K Assembly polls, the first since the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, NC emerged victorious and Omar formed the government with support from independents and six Congress legislators. The BJP won 29 of the 90 seats.
The LoP challenged Omar to take an oath on the Holy Quran in a mosque or any religious place, asserting he would not do so. Omar has maintained that including BJP in the government could have expedited statehood restoration for J&K.