Srinagar, July 13, 2026: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday launched a sharp attack on the BJP after a ₹100-crore defamation case was filed against him, asserting that he had not been served with any summons and had only received an electronic copy of a lawyer’s notice.
Speaking to reporters, Abdullah sarcastically described the notice as a “love letter” from the BJP, saying he viewed it as recognition that he had emerged as a political force the party could not ignore. He accused the BJP of avoiding political engagement and instead attempting to settle political disagreements through legal proceedings, maintaining that his remarks were made openly from a public platform rather than under the protection of legislative privilege.
Announcing that the National Conference would now pursue legal remedies of its own, Abdullah said the party would issue defamation notices to BJP leaders who, he alleged, had repeatedly made false and defamatory statements against the NC leadership.
The Chief Minister also criticised the authorities for denying permission to National Conference leaders to visit the Martyrs’ Graveyard, saying the party was awaiting a response from Delhi Police after seeking approval. He argued that the restrictions undermined the Centre’s repeated claims of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir, pointing to the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway during the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra as evidence that security concerns remained significant.
Abdullah questioned why even a small gathering of around 50 to 150 people at the Martyrs’ Graveyard was being prevented if the situation in the Union Territory was truly normal. The BJP’s ₹100-crore defamation case against the Chief Minister is expected to proceed through the legal process, further escalating the political confrontation between the ruling National Conference and the BJP