Srinagar, May 31 (JKNS): Bhartiya Janta Party senior leader and Leader of Opposition in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Sunil Kumar Sharma, on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the National Conference, asserting that the Abdullah family would never relinquish power, even if Jammu and Kashmir’s status were reduced below that of a Union Territory.
Remarks came ahead of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s scheduled meeting with National Conference legislators on 3 June, 2026.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, as per news agency JKNS, Sharma said the NC leadership was more concerned about retaining authority, protocol and political relevance than pursuing any meaningful struggle over Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional status.
Sharma said Omar Abdullah would not resign from any position, including that of an executive councillor, if such a structure were introduced in Jammu and Kashmir in future.
“Remember my prediction. Neither Omar Abdullah nor the coming generations of the Abdullah family will resign from power. Even if Jammu and Kashmir is reduced to a Hill Council model and Omar Abdullah is made an executive councillor, he will continue to hold on to that chair,” Sharma said.
He alleged that the Abdullah family has historically remained focused on retaining political control and would never make sacrifices for larger political causes.
“There is no question of resignation from a family whose politics revolves around power. They will hold on to any position as long as authority, security, protocol and political importance remain intact,” he said.
The BJP leader further claimed that the National Conference leadership would be willing to accept any administrative arrangement for Jammu and Kashmir provided their political privileges were not affected.
“They are ready to settle for anything, even something below Union Territory status, as long as there is no reduction in their convoy, protocol and official privileges,” Sharma alleged.
Targeting both the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party, Sharma accused the two regional parties of exploiting emotional and political issues for decades to remain in power.
“The so-called political movements run by these parties were never about the people. They were aimed at ensuring that the princes and princesses of two political families remained in power,” he said.
Sharma also alleged that the people of Jammu and Kashmir suffered heavily because of what he termed the political ambitions of dynastic parties.
“Their politics was always centred around power. Ordinary people paid the price while a few political families continued to occupy positions of authority,” he said.
Referring to the upcoming meeting called by Omar Abdullah with NC legislators, Sharma claimed the Chief Minister was attempting to manage growing dissatisfaction and internal disagreements within the party.
“The purpose of this meeting is to ensure that internal differences do not come out in public. The leadership wants to maintain control over the narrative and prevent any visible cracks within the party,” he said.
The Leader of Opposition reiterated that the BJP’s position on Jammu and Kashmir remained clear and accused regional parties of misleading people through what he described as unrealistic political promises.
Sharma’s remarks come amid renewed political discussions over Jammu and Kashmir’s future administrative status and speculation surrounding possible political announcements by the National Conference leadership in the coming days. (JKNS)
