Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 30: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti today demanded that the investigations must look beyond Mushtaq Peer to find out facts about possible political connections to the BOPEE scandal.
Addressing public meetings in Sheeri, Chandoosa and Khitangam in the north Kashmir’s Baramulla constituency, Mehbooba said refusal to take responsibility for the acts of omissions and commissions of his Government, has become the part of defence mechanism of the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah. She said the startling facts reported so far are sufficient to suggest that Mushtaq Peer was handpicked for the BOPEE job and given subsequent extensions and re-employed with full knowledge about his ‘shady past’ and activities as the head of BOPEE.
Mehbooba said the BOPEE selection scandal had been reported by media immediately after the results were declared on June 28 last year. But instead of taking immediate action, the Government gave an extension of two months to Mushtaq Peer, obviously, to ensure that conspiracy involving the sale of papers was taken to logical conclusion and overseeing the admission of the tainted students.
Not only this, Peer was, latter given the charge of the so-called fast track recruitment process, in spite of the BOPEE scandal having come into the public domain.
The PDP also pointed out and raised its voice against this blatant disregard for probity and accountability. Questioning the arbitrary method of re-employment and selection to sensitive, senior positions, she said the re-employment of retired persons has itself assumed the dimensions of a ‘mega scandal’.
She said the class IV and other junior appointments are supposed to be made after holding competitive tests, but the selection to these high positions carrying huge salaries and amenities are made at the whim of the politicians ruling the state.
“In fact, it is generally the officers, who owe the personal interests of the ruling politicians during their service, are latter favored with extensions and re-employments at sensitive places, commanding Government resources and space to dispense favors,” Mehbooba maintained.
She said it was irony that the Chief Minister ordered the arrest of two youth, who at his Darhal public meeting had demanded their salaries, notwithstanding crores are being spent on the retired, tainted and deadwood. But, the casual labours, daily wagers and pensioners have to wait for months together to get their salaries and if they come out on the roads demanding justice they are taken down with brute force.
Mehbooba alleged that instead of providing jobs, better education, recreational facilities and sports infrastructure, the Omar Abdullah regime is busy alienating the future generation and damaging their careers, by framing them in false cases; registering FIRs and slapping PSAs against them.
Others who were present and spoke on the occasion included Syed Basharat Bukhari, MLA; the party’s chief spokesperson, Naeem Akhtar and Javaid Hussain Beigh, state secretary and others.
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