BJP Leader Affirms Omar Abdullah's 2014 Meeting with Amit Shah Amid Poll Turnout in J&K

BJP's Devender Singh Rana asserts Omar Abdullah met BJP leaders in 2014 to discuss forming a government. Union Home Minister Amit Shah highlights high voter turnout in J&K, crediting it to sustained transformation. Assembly elections mark the first since Article 370's abrogation.

BJP leader Devender Singh Rana reiterated on Saturday that Omar Abdullah met with Amit Shah and Ram Madhav in 2014 as the National Conference wanted to form a government with the BJP. Rana's statement came during an interaction with ANI where he emphasized his close association with Abdullah, stating, 'I have worked with Omar Abdullah very closely. I neither lied about him earlier nor am I lying now. He too knows that in 2014, he met Amit Shah and Ram Madhav and he was interested in forming the government. I won't comment on his remarks about me.'

Rana added, 'But it is true that the National Conference wanted to form a government with the BJP in 2014. It is also true that he met Amit Shah and Ram Madhav. If he thinks that this is a lie, he should deny it. If he denies it, I will speak to you with facts.' Rana further recalled, 'He (Omar Abdullah) was interim CM and didn't want to leave power. He wanted NC to be in power in one way or the other. Farooq Abdullah was abroad and he asked him to go and talk to the BJP and stay in Government somehow. BJP was in the centre so Farooq Abdullah always wanted to go hand in hand with the central government. Now the situation will not arise for BJP and NC to come together.'

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted the significant voter turnout in the first phase of the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir as a testament to the region's transformation. Addressing a rally, Shah accused the Congress, National Conference, and People's Democratic Party of causing chaos and suppressing the region's development for years. 'The voter turnout in the first phase of elections is a testament to the transformation happening in Jammu and Kashmir, and the strengthening of democracy in the state. Congress, NC and PDP seized the rights of people here for years by not conducting elections. The Congress, NC and PDP are responsible for all the chaos and issues in Jammu and Kashmir,' Shah said. He added that the lack of provision for reservations for various communities and lack of development were also results of their governance. The assembly elections, being held after almost a decade, mark the first since the abrogation of Article 370, with the first phase of voting on September 18, followed by subsequent phases on September 25 and October 1. Votes will be counted on October 8.

(With inputs from agencies.)