Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, May 31

Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly Sunil Sharma on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the ruling National Conference (NC), alleging internal instability within the government and claiming the ruling dispensation was struggling to stay united.

Sharma made the remarks while speaking to reporters on the banks of Dal Lake after attending Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme in Srinagar’s Khanyar constituency.

Referring to reports circulating on social media about an alleged June 3 meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sharma described it as a last attempt to “save a sinking ship”.

“Since last evening, we have been seeing on social media that on June 3 our Prime Minister has called a meeting. I think this is the last attempt to save the sinking ship. This is the last chance to save it,” Sharma said.

The BJP leader also referred to a recent dinner meeting held at the residence of the Deputy Chief Minister, claiming it reflected frustration within the ruling camp and pointing to what he termed a crisis of governance.

In a renewed criticism of Omar Abdullah, Sharma repeated his earlier description of the chief minister as a “missing Chief Minister” and “Tourist-in-Chief”, alleging that he had remained inaccessible for extended periods.

“Those whom I had called Tourist-in-Chief remained missing for 15 days. We had even said that we would file a missing report,” Sharma said.

He alleged that the chief minister had become more focused on political survival than governance.

“The same missing Chief Minister whom people of Jammu and Kashmir expected something from is today busy from dinner parties to the June 3 meeting only to save his house and his chair,” Sharma alleged.

Claiming that divisions within the ruling camp had widened, Sharma said repeated meetings would not restore stability and predicted the eventual fall of the government.

“No matter how many meetings they hold, their house is broken. Everyone is waiting for the news that the government has collapsed,” he said.

Sharma also dismissed speculation that Omar Abdullah might resign, asserting that the Abdullah family would never voluntarily relinquish power.

“Those talking about the resignation of the Chief Minister should remember my prediction. The Chief Minister will not resign. Even seven generations of the Abdullah family will never resign,” he said.

In one of his strongest attacks, Sharma accused established political families in Jammu and Kashmir of pursuing power for personal and political gain, alleging that decades of unrest had been exploited to preserve political influence.

He also spoke about Prime Minister Modi’s Mann Ki Baat programme, saying it inspires citizens and party workers by highlighting stories from across the country.

Sharma said BJP workers from Khanyar constituency, along with members of the local shikara community, had gathered along Dal Lake to listen to the programme as part of a booth-level outreach initiative.

“In the whole country, on the last Sunday of every month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation through ‘Mann Ki Baat’, which people across the country listen to,” he said.