‘Those whose appointments were questioned and later struck down by the courts are now making such allegations’
Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, June 26
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday rejected allegations by former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti that his government had made 25,000 “backdoor appointments”, calling the claims baseless and saying the administration would present a detailed factual response within days.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah accused the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of levelling allegations despite facing criticism over recruitment practices during its own tenure in government.
“There is a saying about the pot calling the kettle black,” Abdullah said. “Those whose appointments were questioned and later struck down by the courts are now making such allegations.”
The chief minister was responding to remarks made by PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, who alleged earlier this week that the National Conference-led government had carried out thousands of appointments without following due recruitment procedures.
Abdullah dismissed the accusation and challenged the PDP to provide evidence supporting its claim.
“If they can produce even one name of a person who has been appointed through the back door by this government, we are ready to answer,” he said.
He also alleged that recruitment decisions taken during the PDP-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition government had come under judicial and investigative scrutiny, including appointments in the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir Bank.
Without providing fresh evidence, Abdullah referred to previous controversies surrounding appointments during the PDP’s tenure, saying those issues had been examined by courts and investigating agencies.
The chief minister said two senior ministers from his cabinet would hold a press conference within the next one or two days to present official data and respond comprehensively to the allegations.
The exchange marks the latest political confrontation between the ruling National Conference and the PDP, with both parties increasingly trading accusations over governance, recruitment and administrative decisions ahead of anticipated political developments in J&K.
