Original (en)

Srinagar, May 6: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday hinted at launching a sharp political offensive in the coming days, declaring that he was currently “holding himself back” from making political remarks but would speak openly soon. Speaking at a public function in the Tangmarg area of Baramulla district, Abdullah said the present occasion did not permit a detailed political address, even as he indicated that he was preparing to make a forceful intervention on political developments in Jammu and Kashmir and the country. “I want to burst like a cloudburst,” Abdullah remarked while addressing the gathering, a statement widely seen as signalling an impending political response on key issues. Though he stopped short of elaborating on the exact nature of the message, the Chief Minister suggested that he was consciously avoiding political commentary for the moment and would address matters in detail later. The remarks came amid heightened political speculation triggered by claims from PDP leader Waheed Para that discontent was brewing within the ruling National Conference and that some of its legislators were allegedly in touch with PDP president Mehbooba Mufti. Reacting strongly to the allegations, Abdullah later spoke to mediamen, dismissing the claims as “baseless reports” and accusing the PDP of indulging in rumour-mongering for political relevance. “Do you think I would be attending these functions if some MLAs were preparing to leave? These are baseless reports,” Abdullah told reporters after the event. In a sharp counterattack on the PDP, the Chief Minister alleged that the party had indirectly facilitated the BJP’s victory in the Rajya Sabha elections held last year in Jammu and Kashmir. “These are the same people who helped the BJP in the Rajya Sabha polls. It is not that we are saying this; it was revealed by RTI,” Abdullah said. The Chief Minister was referring to disclosures made th