Jammu, Jul 13: J&K Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday served a legal defamation notice to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for making, what it alleged, “false, baseless and defamatory allegations” against it.
Seeking “withdrawal of false allegation and issuance of unconditional public apology within 7 days, the party has threatened to file civil, criminal cases against the Chief Minister, besides defamation proceedings to claim damages worth Rs 100 Cr in case of non-compliance.
The notice referred to the “poaching” allegation of the Chief Minister made on July 11.
CM Omar in his Srinagar rally alleged that a Supreme Court advocate, who is also a J&K BJP office bearer or functionary “had approached some NC MLAs of Jammu region with offers of Rs 20-30 Cr, a ministerial berth as bribe and restoration of statehood” to defect to BJP.
As per the legal notice served by advocate Parimoksh Seth, on behalf of the J&K BJP president Sat Sharma on the instructions of party, for immediate compliance, it (BJP) has asked CM Omar to “withdraw the false allegations in writing and issue an unconditional public apology within 7 days of receipt” of it (notice).
It has been charged in the legal notice that the Chief Minister has deliberately and intentionally made false allegations to tarnish the image of the BJP in the eyes of public.
CM Omar has also been asked to “refrain from publishing or circulating any further defamatory material and immediately cease and desist from making or repeating any false or defamatory statements.”
The party, as per notice, has warned the Chief Minister that in case of non-compliance of the demands specified in the legal notice within the stipulated period, it will “initiate appropriate civil as well as criminal proceedings against him (CM) before the competent court, including proceedings for damages to the tune of Rs 100 Cr for defamation and filling of criminal proceeding for defamation and any other remedies available under law, entirely at his (CM’s) own risk and responsibility as to costs and consequences.” The notice has pointed out that Bharatiya Janata Party is the largest political party of the world. More than 14 Cr people are its registered members.
“Under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP-led government at the Centre is serving the country with dedicated public service, strong commitment, dedication and for governmental reforms and welfare initiatives for the people of India. The party is working on making India a global power under his (PM’s) able leadership. The people of India have reposed faith in Bharatiya Janata Party for the third time at the Centre and Narendra Modi has achieved a milestone of being the longest elected PM of India,” it stated.
The notice mentioned that on July 11, 2026, the Chief Minister made false, baseless and office bearer and functionary of J&K BJP had approached some NC MLAs of Jammu region with offers of Rs 20-30 Cr, a ministerial berth as bribe and restoration of statehood to switch side to BJP.
“You have further made allegations that a senior BJP functionary or office bearer, who is also a lawyer practicing in Supreme court of India has offered a bribe to NC MLAs. The statement made by you levelling allegations has been reported in print media, electronic media and on social media platforms. The allegations made by you are entirely untrue, malicious, and without any factual basis. The statement, issued by you, has seriously harmed the party’s reputation, dignity and standing in society and have caused immense damage to its image in public,” the notice addressed to the Chief Minister read.
It has been maintained that the allegations have been made without any basis, without any proof and they are “absolutely false and have been made intentionally and wilfully” by him to harm the reputation of the party (BJP) in the eyes of the public.
“Your statement and actions amount to defamation and are actionable under the provisions of civil as well as criminal law. Making false accusations with the intention of damaging the party’s reputation is unlawful and exposes you to legal consequences,” the notice read.
The notice was issued without prejudice to all other legal rights and remedies available to the party in law and equity, it was stated.
Later speaking to media persons, J&K BJP president Sat Sharma said that the allegations levelled by the Chief Minister were serious in nature and were aimed at tarnishing the image of the party and the Prime Minister.
“In wake of his (CM’s) stature, the party has decided to file proceedings for damages to the tune of Rs 100 Cr for defamation though any amount cannot compensate for the loss of image, it has (allegation) caused. Moreover, we had warned him (CM) against such wild, frivolous allegations to tarnish the image of the party and the PM, with whom he (CM) shared dais in several functions,” Sharma stated.
The J&K BJP president accused the National Conference of acting in a manner that was actually delaying the restoration of statehood, a commitment made to J&K by the Prime Minister himself. “They need to keep faith in the commitment of the Prime Minister. If they cannot, they can go anywhere. We are not stopping them. But their acts are delaying statehood. They nurtured separatism in J&K and they are still trying to revive it,” Sharma alleged, while referring to NC’s invite to Mirwaiz to participate in Jantar Mantar rally on July 20.
