Paper Leak – Omar Abdullah Rebuts Nadda Over JKSSB Recruitment Leak Timeline
Paper Leak –Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has challenged Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda’s remarks regarding the 2022 Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) recruitment paper leak, stating that the incident took place when the Union Territory was being administered by the Lieutenant Governor and not by an elected National Conference-Congress government. The exchange comes amid a wider political debate over examination irregularities and recruitment transparency across the country.
Omar Abdullah Questions Timeline Mentioned by Nadda
Responding through a post on X, Omar Abdullah said the Union minister had incorrectly linked the recruitment paper leak to a government that was not in office at the time. According to the Chief Minister, the controversy unfolded in 2022 when Jammu and Kashmir was under the Lieutenant Governor’s administration following the absence of an elected government.
While acknowledging that the paper leak was a serious issue, Abdullah said the responsibility should be placed in the correct administrative context. He added that the incident represented a significant governance failure during that period rather than one involving the National Conference or Congress.
Chief Minister Seeks Update on Inquiry Committee
Omar Abdullah also raised questions about the High-Level Committee that had been formed to investigate the recruitment controversy. Referring to directions issued by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court during the case, he said there has been little public information regarding the committee’s findings or whether its report has been acted upon.
He urged the Union government to clarify the present status of the investigation and make the outcome of the committee’s work public, suggesting that greater transparency would help address concerns surrounding the recruitment process.
Nadda Defends BJP During Examination Leak Debate
The exchange followed comments made by Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda during a press conference focused on students’ protests over alleged examination irregularities. While defending the Bharatiya Janata Party against criticism over paper leak cases, Nadda referred to multiple incidents from different parts of the country.
During his remarks, he cited the JKSSB recruitment paper leak and stated that it had occurred when the Congress and National Conference were in power, while also accusing opposition parties of selectively highlighting examination scandals based on political considerations.
National Conference Rejects Minister’s Statement
The National Conference strongly rejected Nadda’s assertion, maintaining that the factual timeline clearly contradicts his claim. Party chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said the recruitment paper leak took place under the Lieutenant Governor’s administration when there was no elected government in Jammu and Kashmir.
He pointed out that the present National Conference-led government assumed office only in October 2024 following the Assembly elections. Sadiq argued that attributing the 2022 incident to the current ruling party ignored the administrative reality that existed at the time. He further said that if the distinction between the Lieutenant Governor’s administration and an elected government was overlooked, it either reflected a misunderstanding of the facts or an attempt to present a misleading narrative.
Party Leaders Continue Political Counterattack
Another National Conference spokesperson, Imran Nabi Dar, also criticised the Union minister’s comments. He referred to the sequence of events surrounding the JKSSB recruitment controversy, noting that the alleged paper leak surfaced in March 2022 and that the recruitment list was later cancelled in July of the same year.
Dar said the National Conference did not assume power until October 2024 and argued that Jammu and Kashmir remained under the Lieutenant Governor and the Central government’s administration throughout the period in which the controversy unfolded. He also claimed that several recruitment-related controversies occurred during that phase and questioned the reasons behind the Union minister’s remarks, suggesting they followed the party’s recent campaign seeking the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood