Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 25: Even as Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today ordered a high-level inquiry into the “procedural inadequacies” in the selection process of Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB), the controversy refused to die down with Opposition National Conference working president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah demanding a High Court monitored investigation.
In the meantime, Syed Aroot Madni, nephew of Mehbooba Mufti and son of her maternal uncle and PDP vice president Sartaj Madni, withdrew from the selection list voluntarily after major controversy erupted over the selection list in which nephew of Peer Mansoor Shah, vice chairman of KVIB also figured in the waiting list. While Madni was appointed as Executive Officer, Shah’s nephew was in the waiting list of Assistant Executive Officer.
An official handout said the Chief Minister has ordered a high-level inquiry into the procedural inadequacies in the selection process of the KVIB, the results of which were declared a couple of days ago.
“The inquiry will be held by a committee headed by Chief Secretary BB Vyas and it has been asked to furnish its report in a short time,” the official handout said.
The Board had issued an advertisement against vacancies on October 8, 2016. Shortlisted candidates took a written test in August 2017, and interviews for the position began in the last week of January.
The selection process was conducted by a private recruitment agency instead of the J&K Services Selection Recruitment Board (JKSSRB).
The Chief Minister’s nephew declined to accept the employment offer from the Board following the controversy generated by his appointment.
Opposition National Conference launched a scathing attack on the PDP over alleged nepotism and malpractice in the selection of candidates.
“The KVIB list is full of appointments made on the basis of relations and affiliations to the CM’s family and party. Withdrawal of application by Sartaj Madni’s son doesn’t end the case but indicates he wouldn’t have been able to stand the scrutiny of a probe,” the party said.
Demanding a High Court (HC) monitored investigation into the appointments in the KVIB, Omar Abdullah said declining job by son of a senior ruling PDP leader does not wash away the “fraud and nepotism”.
Omar tweeted, “Why should the probe be withdrawn? Madni declining the job doesn’t wash away the fraud & nepotism. This issue must be probed by a High Court monitored investigation”.
Works Minister and J&K Government’s official spokesman Naeem Akhter immediately reacted to Omar’s tweet.
“What was his name? Justice Bedi? Yes, if it is to be buried deeper than poor Haji Yusuf. Current address please,” Naeem tweeted. He was reacting to mysterious death of Haji Yusuf at the residence of Omar Abdullah when he was the Chief Minister and Justice Bedi Commission was appointed for investigations. The Commission had, however, given clean chit to Omar.
PDP youth leader Waheed Ur Rehman Parra also jumped into the twitter war.
“Probe more @ Omar Abdullah Suddenly you’re concerned about youth. What about Rs 100 cr scam in JKCA, courtesy your own family, BOPEE scam, Waqaf Board, MLC scam Haji Yousuf’s and NPAs of Vijay Mallaya and the list goes on,” Para tweeted.
Meanwhile, the official twitter account of the NC said, ” Our demands on KVIB and other recruitment scams by the PDP-BJP Government are quashing all such dubious lists that have violated the merit and trust of deserving, educated youth, order court-monitored, judicial probes and immediate resignation of KVIB chairman”.
The party further tweeted, “There have been thousands of such political, backdoor appointments made by CM @MehboobaMufti and her family members in the last three years – in Government departments, Boards and prominently the J&K Bank. The PDP-BJP Govt’s continuous genocide of merit”.
NC also asked Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to step down in the wake of allegations of nepotism in recruitment in various departments and sought a judicial probe into the appointment issue of the KVIB.
NC State spokesperson Junaid Mattu said Mufti and her family members “are personally responsible, involved and culpable for not only the KVIB recruitment scam but all such rigged recruitment processes” that had paved way for the “illegitimate and unfair adjustment” of children of PDP legislators and relatives of the Chief Minister in various Government departments and Central schemes.
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