Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah on Saturday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had offered between ₹20 crore and ₹30 crore, a ministerial berth and the promise of restoring statehood to National Conference MLAs in an attempt to persuade them to switch sides. Addressing party workers at the 'Madar-e-Meharban' Day rally at Hazratbal in Srinagar, Abdullah also cautioned the Centre and the BJP against "testing our patience and decency", claiming fresh efforts were underway to engineer a split within his party.

Speaking at the rally, Abdullah alleged that one of the NC legislators from Jammu had informed him about an approach made by a Supreme Court lawyer who is also associated with the BJP. According to the chief minister, the legislator was allegedly promised ₹20-30 crore, a ministerial position and support for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood in exchange for joining the BJP. Abdullah claimed the MLA rejected the offer and remained loyal to the National Conference. He further asserted that the BJP had failed to lure party legislators with money or political positions and was now attempting to use the issue of statehood as an inducement.

The chief minister challenged the BJP's alleged attempts to weaken his party, saying the National Conference's leaders could not be bought. Referring to the party's founding leaders, including Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah, he said they had instilled values that placed public service above personal gain. "Look at the stage, you won't see anyone who is ready to sell their faith for ₹20 crores or even for ₹100 crores," he said, while maintaining that the party's legislators remained committed to the mandate given by the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

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Abdullah also renewed his criticism of the Centre over the delay in restoring Jammu and Kashmir's statehood. Drawing a comparison with ongoing discussions between the Centre and leaders from Ladakh regarding constitutional safeguards under Article 371, he questioned why similar engagement was not taking place with Jammu and Kashmir. He said his government had repeatedly raised the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior leaders but had only been told that statehood would be restored at the "right time." The chief minister urged the Centre to clarify what constituted that "right time" and accused it of keeping the people of Jammu and Kashmir waiting indefinitely.

Taking a swipe at the BJP, Abdullah remarked that if the restoration of statehood depended on the BJP forming a government in Jammu and Kashmir, the party should state so publicly instead of repeatedly assuring residents that the promise would eventually be fulfilled. He questioned how many elections would continue to be fought on the issue of statehood and urged the Centre not to mistake the National Conference's restraint for weakness. At the time of his remarks, there was no immediate response from the BJP to the allegations of attempts to induce defections. The claims remain unverified and add to the continuing political tensions between the National Conference-led government and the BJP over governance and the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood.

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