BJP issues Rs 100 Cr defamation notice to Omar Abdullah over bribery remarks
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Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP has served a Rs 100 crore defamation notice on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over his allegation that the party was offering Rs 20–30 crore to MLAs to topple the National Conference government.
The notice follows remarks made by Abdullah during a party convention on July 11 held to mark the 26th death anniversary of his grandmother, Begum Akbar Jahan, popularly known as the 'Madr-e-Meherbaan' (Benevolent Mother).
During the event, the Chief Minister alleged that a senior BJP leader had approached one of the National Conference's MLAs from the Jammu division, offering Rs 20–30 crore, a ministerial berth and restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood in exchange for defecting and helping bring down the government.
The defamation notice demands that Abdullah withdraw his remarks and issue an unconditional public apology within seven days.
It warns that failure to comply would result in civil and criminal proceedings, including a defamation suit seeking Rs 100 crore in damages.
The notice was issued through Advocate Parimoksh Seth on the instructions of Jammu and Kashmir BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Paul Sharma.
According to the notice, Abdullah also alleged that a senior BJP functionary, who is a practising Supreme Court advocate, was involved in making the alleged offer to the MLA.
Rejecting the allegations, the BJP described them as "false, baseless, malicious and defamatory", alleging they were made without evidence and intended to tarnish the party's credibility and public image.
The party has called on the Chief Minister to withdraw the allegations in writing, issue an unconditional public apology within seven days, and refrain from making or repeating similar statements in the future.
The notice states that if the demands are not met within the stipulated period, the BJP will initiate appropriate legal proceedings, including a Rs 100 crore civil defamation suit and criminal action under the relevant provisions of law.
It further clarifies that the notice has been issued without prejudice to any other legal remedies available to the party.
The BJP has consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that they are politically motivated and defamatory.
With IANS inputs