J&K BJP slams CM Omar Abdullah for “glorifying rioters”, undermining L&O
Jammu, July 15 (KINS): The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accusing him of glorifying rioters and disrespecting the rule of law.
The criticism came during a press conference held at the party’s headquarters in Trikuta Nagar, Jammu, addressed by Chief Spokesperson Adv. Sunil Sethi, along with Dr. Abhijeet Jasrotia, Spokesperson, and Dr. Pardeep Mahotra, Media Incharge of J&K BJP.
Adv. Sunil Sethi sharply condemned the Chief Minister’s recent actions, particularly his visit to commemorate the individuals involved in the July 13, 1931 incident—whom Sethi described as “rioters” who stormed the Central Jail. “It is shocking to see a sitting Chief Minister publicly climb walls to pay tribute to those who attacked a jail where anti-national elements were imprisoned. This act is not only symbolic of disrespect for law but also sends a dangerous message,” he said.
Sethi questioned Omar Abdullah’s credibility in demanding full statehood and control over law and order, while at the same time “violating” it for political theatrics. “Those who attack courts and storm jails are not freedom fighters—they are lawbreakers. Glorifying such acts emboldens separatists and sends the wrong signal,” he said.
He also criticized the CM for drawing parallels between the 1931 incident and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, calling the comparison “absurd and deeply insulting” to the true martyrs of India’s freedom movement. Sethi further alleged that the day after the 1931 incident, targeted violence took place against Kashmiri Hindus, with arson and looting reported—an episode he claimed the National Conference has consistently ignored and never apologized for.
Accusing the National Conference of siding with “traitors,” Sethi reminded the public that even the Congress had once labeled Sheikh Abdullah a traitor. “At a time when Jammu & Kashmir is progressing toward peace and development, NC is trying to derail the process for narrow political gains,” he said, adding that both NC and PDP are competing to appease separatist ideologies and break the law to gain relevance.
Commenting on governance under Omar Abdullah’s leadership, Sethi said, “The government has failed across all sectors—be it health, education, mining, or revenue. And whenever questioned, they hide behind emotional slogans like statehood.”
He further said that the Omar-led government’s constant friction with the Union government harms the interests of J&K. “Instead of working together for the people’s benefit, the CM projects the Centre as an adversary. But the people of Kashmir now see through these political stunts—they want development, not disruption.”
Reacting to Omar Abdullah’s recent comments criticizing the media, Sethi said branding journalists as “cowardly” and “bought” is an attack on press freedom. “The media in J&K has been working with courage and integrity. Such remarks undermine its credibility and independence,” he added.
Dr. Abhijeet Jasrotia, while supporting Sethi’s remarks, termed the Chief Minister’s wall-climbing gesture a “media stunt.” He reminded people of the 2010 unrest during Omar Abdullah’s tenure as the head of the Unified Command, in which over 120 civilians lost their lives. “That period speaks volumes about the CM’s leadership on law and order,” he said.
The BJP leaders reiterated their commitment to unity and inclusive development. “We don’t differentiate between Jammu and Kashmir, or between Hindus and Muslims. Our focus is national integration and progress,” Sethi emphasized, adding that the party will continue its mission to end separatism and bring peace and prosperity to every corner of the Union Territory.(KINS)
