BJP Announces J&K-Wide Stir Over Outsourcing Row

SRINAGAR: Accusing the Omar Abdullah government of dashing the hopes of thousands of educated youth, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday announced an aggressive campaign against its outsourcing policy.

Addressing a press conference here, BJP leader Sunil Sharma described the policy as an “appointment scam” that, he alleged, favours backdoor recruitment over merit. He said deserving youth were being denied opportunities and accused the government of presiding over corruption, broken promises, and a system that benefits only a select few.

The PDP, too, had earlier while intensifying its attack, alleged nearly 25,000 backdoor appointments and demanded transparency in outsourcing contracts. However, the government strongly rejected these accusations. The Chief Minister’s Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani dismissed the claims as “baseless and misleading,” asserting that permanent jobs are filled only through authorized official agencies JKPSC and JKSSB, while outsourcing is used strictly for temporary manpower needs in essential sectors.

Ministers Sakina Itoo and Javid Dar defended the policy, stressing that outsourced workers are not government employees and that such engagements follow transparent tendering norms, often tied to centrally sponsored schemes. They counter‑accused previous PDP governments of irregular appointments in institutions like J&K Bank and Khadi and Village Industries Board, pointing to ongoing investigations.

As political temperatures rise, both sides are locked in a high‑stakes confrontation over employment, transparency, and governance. While the opposition rallies youth to join protests, the government insists that outsourcing is a standard administrative practice and not a gateway to permanent jobs.

Sharma, who is the Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly, alleged that poor families who had struggled to educate their children in the hope of securing stable employment were now facing disappointment and distress because of the government’s recruitment policies.

Launching a sharp attack on the Abdullah family, Sharma alleged that it had deprived generations of youth of opportunities and was once again pushing them towards uncertainty.

The BJP leader further alleged that corruption had become rampant since the present government took office, claiming that ministers and officials were running a “transfer industry” to collect money.

He alleged that the proceeds of corruption were being shared among ministers, officials, and the “treasury of one family,” asserting that the BJP had evidence of widespread irregularities.

Calling for an independent probe, Sharma urged investigating agencies to expose alleged corruption in the administration, particularly in departments dealing with mining and transfers.

Referring to the government’s election promises, Sharma claimed that commitments such as 10 kilograms of free ration, 200 units of free electricity, one lakh jobs, and 12 LPG cylinders had remained unfulfilled.

He alleged that instead of answering these questions, the ruling party was trying to divert public attention through its proposed protest at Jantar Mantar seeking restoration of statehood.

Sharma said the BJP considered the outsourcing policy an “appointment scandal,” alleging that contractual appointments were first made through outsourcing and later regularised, leaving deserving candidates without opportunities.

Announcing the party’s strategy, Sharma said the BJP would soon launch a mass movement from Kashmir against outsourcing and alleged recruitment irregularities. He said the agitation would be taken to every district, locality, and neighbourhood, describing it as a fight for justice and the rights of unemployed youth rather than a political campaign.

Inviting youth across party lines, religions, and regions to join the movement, Sharma said it was a collective struggle for employment and justice.

On the issue of statehood, Sharma reiterated that the restoration of J&K’s statehood was part of the BJP’s commitment and manifesto, maintaining that it would be restored through Parliament and not through protests at Jantar Mantar. He criticised the National Conference for, according to him, not mentioning statehood in its election manifesto and accused it of using the issue to evade accountability over governance.

Responding to a question on corruption investigations, Sharma said it was the responsibility of investigating agencies to probe alleged irregularities, while the Opposition’s duty was to raise public issues and expose government failures. He also alleged that corruption had spread across several government offices and challenged the government to roll back the outsourcing policy, warning that the BJP would continue its agitation until the decision was withdrawn. “The BJP will not remain silent. We will fight till the last breath for the rights of Jammu and Kashmir’s youth,” Sharma said.