Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday rejected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti’s allegations that the National Conference (NC)-led government made nearly 25,000 backdoor appointments, describing the claims as “baseless” and accusing the PDP of having made the highest number of illegal appointments during its tenure.
Speaking to reporters after joining Ashura mourners at Zadibal in Srinagar, Omar said, “This is like ‘ulta chor kotwal ko dante’. Those who made the highest number of backdoor and illegal appointments are now accusing us.”
He alleged that several backdoor appointments made during the PDP regime were struck down by the courts.
Referring to the case involving the son of senior PDP leader Sartaj Madni, Mehbooba Mufti’s maternal uncle, Omar said he was sacked on the orders of the court. He also claimed that hundreds of appointments made in the Jammu and Kashmir Bank during the PDP-BJP government are still under investigation by probe agencies.
“If I start counting the backdoor appointments made during the PDP-BJP government, you will not have enough time to count them,” Omar said.
He challenged the PDP to produce evidence, asking it to identify even a single candidate who had secured a job through an illegal appointment under the present government.
The Chief Minister said he would not respond in detail to what he termed “baseless allegations” but added that all relevant information had been compiled.
“.. Within the next one or two days, my two senior ministers will address the media and place the facts before the people,” he said.
On Thursday, Mehbooba Mufti alleged that the Omar Abdullah led government made nearly 25,000 backdoor appointments over the last 22 months. She claimed the appointments were made without advertisements or interviews and alleged that ministers, MLAs and alliance partners routed recruitments through nearly 200 outsourcing agencies.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister expressed hope that the traditional Ashura procession in Srinagar would soon be restored to its original route, saying his government would continue its efforts to make it possible.
He said the holy month of Muharram and the day of Ashura carry a timeless message of sacrifice, courage and righteousness.
“This is the month of Muharram and the 10th of Muharram is the day of Ashura. We all know the significance of this occasion. The sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain and the lessons of that sacrifice will continue to guide and improve us as long as we remember them. Whenever we forget those lessons, we face destruction,” he said.
Referring to the historic Ashura procession in Srinagar, the Chief Minister said he hoped the procession would one day return to its original route.
“On this occasion, I hope that very soon the day will come when the Ashura procession returns to its original route. We have earlier made every effort to restore the procession to its traditional route, but we have not succeeded so far. We will continue our efforts,” Abdullah said.
The Chief Minister also distributed water and milk among mourners at a sabeel during the Muharram observance.
The tenth day of Muharram is known as Ashura and is commemorated by all Muslims. The day marks the martyrdom of the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.
