Srinagar: Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma has criticised the National Conference (NC) government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accusing it of institutionalising nepotism and betraying the aspirations of unemployed youth in Jammu and Kashmir. Sunil Sharma said that despite tall promises made during the elections, the NC government has failed to generate employment opportunities for the deserving youth. Instead of opening doors for educated and qualified young aspirants, the government has resorted to re-employing retired officials through questionable administrative decisions.
He pointed out that a recently reappointed retired officer—reportedly a close relative of a senior political leader, was brought back into service through orders issued by the General Administration Department (GAD). Earlier, another retired official was similarly accommodated in the Tourism Department. Terming these actions as “anti-youth and anti-merit”, the Leader of Opposition said the NC government has severely eroded the public trust and reduced its promise of providing one lakh jobs to a mockery. The CM has not spoken about these appointments and his colleague Javid Dar has defended these appointments saying it sometimes becomes necessary to hire retired officers. This was done keeping their expertise in the chosen field in mind.
“Omar Abdullah promised one lakh jobs to unemployed youth. What has been delivered instead is blatant nepotism, where posts are handed out to relatives and favourites. This betrayal of public trust is unacceptable and the government must immediately put an end to such unethical and corrupt practices”, Sharma said. He was referring to the tall promises the NC had made in its manifesto in the run-up to the assembly elections.
Targeting the NC government’s welfare claims, Sharma dismissed the promise of subsidised electricity as misleading and deceptive. “Where are the 200 free electricity units promised in the last budget session? Even under the Prime Minister’s Surya Urja Muft Bijli Yojana, nearly eight lakh registered families in Jammu and Kashmir are still waiting. This government survives on false assurances and repeated failures”, he stated. On Page 13 of the 44-page manifesto, the NC had promised to give 200 free electricity units to households. However, nothing has been done to redeem this pledge made in the manifesto.
On the same page of the manifesto, where “Relief from Electricity and Water Crisis” has been promised, the manifesto had rather pompously said that the NC government will get 40 per cent of free electricity from hydropower stations within the Union Territory (UT) of J&K. The manifesto had erroneously claimed that J&K was getting only 10 per cent free power. However, the fact is that it gets 12 per cent free electricity from all hydropower plants within its territory.
A senior NHPC official said, on condition of anonymity, that talking about 40 per cent free electricity is utterly stupid and impracticable. The NHPC has a pan-India model in which all states and UTs get 12 per cent free electricity. The rest of 88 per cent electricity is sold by the producer through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with different states and UTs. If J&K wants 40 per cent or even 100 per cent electricity produced within the UT, it can do so by mobilising the cost of the power. If NHPC were to give 40 per cent of electricity because of NC’s claims, it would become an unviable commercial entity, go into red and go bust.
The Leader of Opposition further said that the NC government has failed comprehensively on major fronts, including employment generation, governance and development. “They remain engaged in rhetoric and diversionary narratives, while development on the ground remains stagnant. Projects completed during the Lieutenant Governor’s administration are now being projected by NC Ministers merely for publicity and photo opportunities”, he added.
Referring to his recent visit to Assam, Sunil Sharma expressed confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s growing strength across the country. “The BJP is poised to form the government in Assam for the third consecutive time, and West Bengal will follow. The people of India are choosing development, transparency, and good governance over deception”, he said.
Adopting almost the same tone as Sharma, Peoples Conference Chairman and MLA Handwara Sajad Gani Lone has also criticised CM Omar Abdullah, accusing him of failing to fulfill the promises made in the election manifesto in the 2024 Legislative Assembly elections. Lone said that the election manifesto of NC, promising free 200 units of electricity, 12 free LPG gas cylinders annually, Rs. 5,000 per month to educated youth and one lakh government jobs has turned out to be a hoax. He pointed out that instead of providing free electricity, tariffs have been doubled in non-metered areas, adding to the woes of common masses.
On top of the 44-page manifesto of the National Conference (NC), which it had released in August 2024, the words written were: We stand by our word. A clean past, a clear present, courageous actions and a secure future. Its manifesto had said: The manifesto is not just a document, it is a testament to our unwavering commitment to the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. It further said: The Jammu & Kashmir National Conference makes a solemn pledge to the people of Jammu and Kashmir that the Party shall: Guarantee These 12 Promises.
It had promised a comprehensive job package for youth. In this regard, it had said that within three months of formation of the government, we shall pass a Jammu & Kashmir Youth Employment Generation Act. It had also promised to fill all vacancies in the government departments within 180 days and ensure policy for future.
