Srinagar: “More skeletons fall out of the cupboard,” Former Chief minister Omar Abdullah said on Sunday, reacting to Governor Satya Pal Malik’s disclosure that PDP-BJP changed entire select list of J&K Bank to appoint their political favourites, numbering 582.
In an interview with Times Now, Malik said a complete selection list of 582 candidates in Jammu and Kashmir Bank was set aside to appoint political workers in their place. He also raised serious question mark on the working of Public Services Commission (PSC) saying a youth was selected for KAS even without appearing in the examinations. Malik said 40 youth approached him, saying they had cleared all examinations and figured in the selection list of Jammu and Kashmir but were replaced by relatives and workers of political parties.
“I called the Jammu and Kashmir Bank Chairman. He told me that the number was not 40 but all 582 youths recruited by the Bank had been replaced with the political appointees, recommended by the leaders from every constituency. I asked the Bank Chairman to give the youth their due. I also called the Finance Secretary and finally a resolution was adopted and all 582 candidates have been given appointment letters,” he said, adding if such a justice is done with the youth, there will be no stone pelters. “The youth were in dark. they were dejected. As there was none to help them,” he said. Replying to Omar’s tweet, a netizen questioned how justice has been done by the governor when 582 political appointees continue to be posted. “They should have been ousted and 582 other deserving and meritorious candidate appointed,” the netizen said.
As Malik belong to BJP, interviewer asked him that the BJP was also partner with the PDP in Government when such glaring irregularities took place, he said it was for the BJP to reply to the allegations. However, he didn’t name the PDP-BJP.
Raising serious question mark over functioning of the PSC, Malik said that a youth was selected for the KAS without appearing for the examination.
“Youth with (militancy) background were recruited. Some of the recruited teachers were preaching fundamentalism in the schools,” he said.
Referring to Government Group Medical Policy with Reliance General Insurance scam, the Governor without naming any of his Advisors or senior bureaucrats, said within four to five days of his takeover in August, they came to him and briefed him that the Policy has been well drafted and studied and was required to be implemented for benefit of employees and pensioners.
“I gave go ahead but when Government employees and others started raising fingers over the Policy, I had a detailed and fresh look at it and found discrepancies. I ordered scrapping of the contract,” he said, adding he knows who got what (in the scam), who is behind this (the Policy). “But, I will act when the inquiry is completed”.
