Srinagar, Jul 13: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has served a legal notice to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, demanding an unconditional public apology within seven days for alleging that the party attempted to bribe National Conference (NC) legislators.
The notice, issued through party counsel from Jammu, comes in response to chief minister Omar Abdullah’s remarks at a convention in Srinagar on July 11, where he claimed that a senior BJP functionary, also a Supreme Court lawyer, had approached NC MLAs from the Jammu region with offers of Rs 20-30 crore, a ministerial berth, and restoration of statehood to induce them to switch sides.
Terming the allegations “entirely untrue, malicious, and without any factual basis,” the BJP has asserted that the statements have caused “serious harm” to the party’s reputation and public standing. The notice states that the remarks were made “intentionally and willfully” to damage the party’s image.
The legal notice, calls upon CM Omar Abdullah to withdraw the allegations in writing, issue an unconditional public apology, and refrain from making or repeating any defamatory statements against the party. It also warns that non-compliance within the stipulated period would compel the BJP to initiate civil and criminal defamation proceedings, including a claim for damages to the tune of Rs 100 crore.
The BJP, in the notice, described itself as the world’s largest political party with over 14 crore registered members, serving the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
