SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday dismissed People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti’s allegation that his government had made 25,000 “backdoor appointments”, saying the claims were baseless and that the government would present the full facts before the public within the next two days.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah said the accusations were ironic, alleging that the previous PDP-led administration itself had been involved in several controversial appointments.
“There is a saying about the pot calling the kettle black. Those who made the highest number of illegal and backdoor appointments, and whose appointments were struck down by the courts, are now making these allegations,” he said.
The chief minister referred to the PDP-BJP government, claiming that appointments made during its tenure, including those in the Jammu and Kashmir Bank, remain under investigation by probing agencies. He also alleged that during Mehbooba Mufti’s tenure as chief minister, a relative of her maternal uncle, Sartaj Madni, had secured a backdoor appointment that was later cancelled following court intervention.
Abdullah challenged the PDP to substantiate its allegations with evidence.
“If they can produce even one name of a person appointed through the backdoor by this government, we are ready to answer. We will provide a clarification if there is any evidence. But we will not respond to baseless accusations,” he said.
He added that the government has compiled all relevant records and that two senior ministers would hold a press conference within the next one or two days to place the complete facts before the public.
The remarks came a day after Mehbooba Mufti alleged that the National Conference-led government had carried out 25,000 backdoor appointments in the Union Territory.
