(file photo)Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
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A legal battle appears to be brewing between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah after the party served him a legal notice threatening a ₹100-crore defamation suit over his allegations that BJP leaders tried to poach National Conference (NC) legislators. Dismissing the notice as a “love letter”, Abdullah said the NC would respond by also initiating legal action against BJP leaders over what he termed “unfounded and slanderous” allegations against his party over the past few months. The notice, issued by advocate Parimoksh Seth on behalf of BJP J&K president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Paul Sharma, asks Abdullah to withdraw his allegations, issue an unconditional public apology within seven days and refrain from making any further allegedly defamatory statements.According to the notice, Abdullah had alleged that BJP functionaries approached some NC legislators from the Jammu region with offers of ₹20-30 crore, a ministerial berth and restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood in exchange for switching allegiance. It also objects to his allegation that a senior BJP functionary, who is also a Supreme Court lawyer, had offered bribes to NC legislators.Calling the allegations “entirely untrue, malicious and without any factual basis”, the notice says they have damaged Sharma’s reputation and amount to defamation under civil and criminal law. It warns that failure to comply within seven days would invite civil and criminal proceedings, including a ₹100-crore defamation suit.“Badge of Honour”Reacting to the notice, Abdullah said he viewed it as a badge of honour.“I have received an e-copy of the notice. I consider it a great honour because I am perhaps the only politician from Jammu and Kashmir to receive a love letter from the BJP. It is a mark of respect because it tells me I am a political force they cannot ignore,” Abdullah told reporters at his party headquarter in Srinagar. Accusing the BJP of taking political battles to the courts, Abdullah said he had deliberately made the allegations outside the Assembly, expecting a political response.“I made the statement on a political stage expecting the BJP to respond politically. Instead, they have chosen to hide behind the courts. If that is how they want to fight, so be it,” he said.The Chief Minister also announced that the National Conference would begin issuing legal notices to BJP leaders who, he alleged, had repeatedly levelled baseless accusations against the party.“For months, senior BJP leaders, particularly one leader, have been making unfounded and slanderous allegations against the National Conference and its leadership. We have fought them politically. Now we will begin sending legal notices to that particular BJP leader and few others and let us see where this process goes,” Abdullah said.Published on July 13, 2026
