SRINAGAR: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced a nationwide agitation against the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference (NC) government in Jammu and Kashmir, accusing it of corruption and mismanagement, particularly in the outsourcing of government jobs.
BJP Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma described the outsourcing policy as the “biggest-ever appointment scam” in the region and vowed to mobilize people across the state to oppose it.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Sharma alleged that the NC government had outsourced nearly 25,000 government jobs, favoring relatives and party workers over deserving candidates. He termed this “legalized corruption” and criticized the government’s “transfer industry”, where transfers and postings are allegedly sold for money. Sharma accused the government of institutionalizing corruption, turning public employment into a tool of political patronage, and depriving qualified youth of opportunities.
Sharma further claimed that thousands of educated unemployed youth, who invested years preparing for government exams, now face an uncertain future due to what he called the government’s “anti-youth recruitment policy.” He criticized the outsourcing of jobs through agencies, which he argued blocks merit-based appointments and promotes favoritism.
The BJP leader also accused the NC government of corruption at the ministerial and bureaucratic levels, alleging that money collected through transfers and other means is being shared among officials and even filling the treasury of a family.
He criticized the NC for failing to fulfill key election promises, including providing free ration, electricity, government jobs, and LPG cylinders. Instead of addressing governance issues, Sharma claimed the NC was diverting attention with protests in Delhi at Jantar Mantar, demanding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood—a move Sharma dismissed as a political gimmick.
The BJP announced plans to launch a mass movement starting from Kashmir against the outsourcing policy and alleged irregularities in recruitment. The agitation will be expanded across all districts, towns, and villages, aiming to protect the rights of unemployed youth and promote transparency and merit in public service recruitment. Sharma invited youth from all regions and communities to join the movement, emphasizing that the fight was for justice and fairness.
On the issue of statehood, Sharma reaffirmed the BJP’s commitment to restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s status through Parliament, criticizing the NC for not including the issue in its election manifesto and raising it now to evade accountability.
In response to questions on corruption investigations, the LoP said that it was the duty of investigative agencies to probe allegations, while the opposition’s role was to expose government failures. He warned that if the outsourcing policy was not withdrawn, the BJP would escalate its agitation until the government reversed what it called an “anti-youth decision.”
Earlier, Sharma chaired a strategy meeting with senior party leaders and district presidents to plan the campaign against outsourcing of government jobs, which he termed a threat to merit-based employment and accountability. The meeting was attended by BJP leaders including General Secretaries Anwar Khan and Gopal Mahajan, spokespersons, and other senior officials.