Srinagar, July 13: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday termed the legal notice served on him by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a “mark of respect,” alleging that the party was “hiding behind courts” instead of responding politically.
He also announced that the National Conference (NC) would initiate legal proceedings against BJP leaders over what he described as defamatory and baseless allegations against the party and its leadership.
Speaking to reporters at the National Conference headquarters, Nawa-i-Subh, Omar said the legal notice reflected that he remained “a political force they cannot ignore.”
“I have received an electronic copy of the legal notice. I consider it a great honour because I am probably the only politician in Jammu and Kashmir who has received such a love letter from the BJP. I consider it a mark of respect because it tells me that I am a political force they cannot ignore,” he said.
The Chief Minister said he had intentionally made his remarks on a political platform expecting a political response from the BJP, but alleged that the party had instead chosen to pursue the matter through the courts.
“I could have made the same statement inside the Assembly under privilege, where it could not have been challenged outside. But I didn’t. I made the point on a political stage expecting the BJP to respond politically. They have chosen not to. They take political fights and hide behind the courts. They would rather settle political scores in court,” Omar said.
He said the National Conference would now adopt the same legal course against BJP leaders who, he alleged, had repeatedly levelled unfounded allegations against the party.
“For the last few months, senior BJP leaders have levelled baseless and slanderous allegations against the National Conference and its leadership. We have been fighting them politically. From now on, we will begin the process of sending legal notices to one particular BJP leader and a few others. Let us see where this process goes,” he said.
Referring to the proposed National Conference protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, Omar said the party was awaiting permission from the Delhi Police.
“We have been informed that permission usually takes five days. We are following it up and expect to hear from Delhi Police by tomorrow or Wednesday morning,” he said.
Commenting on the restrictions imposed on July 13, the Chief Minister said preventing him and other NC leaders from paying tributes at the Martyrs’ Graveyard exposed the gap between official claims of normalcy and the prevailing ground situation.
“It is a very sad thing that those people who, on July 13, sacrificed their precious lives against British rule, against personal rule and for democracy are being remembered in this manner. We were not discredited by not being allowed to visit the Martyrs’ Graveyard. Those who took this decision have discredited themselves. On one hand, we are told everything is normal in Jammu and Kashmir, but on the ground nothing appears normal,” he said.
Questioning the security situation, Omar referred to the arrangements made for the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, saying he did not recall the National Highway being closed for the pilgrimage in previous years.
“I don’t remember a time when the National Highway had to be closed for the Amarnath Yatra. This year it has been closed so that yatris can travel safely. What does that tell you about the security situation? It shows how uncertain they are about the calm that prevails,” he said.
He added that the administration had prevented even a small group of NC leaders from visiting the Martyrs’ Graveyard.
“We were not talking about lakhs of people or even thousands. We would not have gone there with more than 100 or 150 people. If they feel threatened even by such a small gathering, that discredits them, not us,” Omar said.
