Omar Abdullah Rejects PDP’s ‘Backdoor Appointment’ Charge, Challenges Mehbooba to Name Even One Appointee
Srinagar, June 26, KNT: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday strongly rejected the Peoples Democratic Party’s allegations that his government had made thousands of backdoor appointments, challenging PDP president Mehbooba Mufti to identify even a single person allegedly appointed by the present administration through such means.
Responding to the allegations while speaking to reporters, Omar Abdullah said, “Show me a single name whom we have appointed through the backdoor.”
The Chief Minister described the allegations as “baseless” and announced that two senior ministers of his government would address a press conference within the next couple of days to place the facts before the public.
📢 8,000+ readers already joined for instant Kashmir News Trust updates
He accused the PDP of attempting to divert attention from its own record in government, alleging that large-scale backdoor appointments had taken place during the PDP-BJP coalition government.
Omar Abdullah also referred to the appointment of son of Mehbooba’s maternal uncle Sartaj Madni, alleging that the matter had reached the courts and that the appointment was subsequently withdrawn following judicial intervention.
The Chief Minister further alleged that hundreds of backdoor appointments were made during the PDP-BJP regime and claimed that appointments made in the Jammu and Kashmir Bank during that period continue to remain under the scrutiny of investigating agencies.
Without naming anyone directly, Omar Abdullah said the allegations levelled by the PDP were an attempt to accuse others of practices that had allegedly taken place during its own tenure in office, describing the charges against the present government as devoid of substance.
The Chief Minister’s remarks came a day after Mehbooba Mufti alleged that the National Conference-led government had institutionalized backdoor appointments and deprived deserving youth of employment opportunities. The PDP had also announced protests over the issue across Jammu and Kashmir. [KNT]
