The selection of son of ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice-president Sartaj Madni as executive officer in the J&K Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB) has triggered a storm in the state with opposition National Conference terming it as “institutionalization of corruption” while netizens seeking explanation from the government over “fraudulent selection”.
Syed Aroot Madni, son of senior Madni figured in the selection list that was issued by the Board, headed by PDP general secretary Peerzada Mansoor Hussain, a few days ago.
Hussain’s nephew has figured in the waiting list for the post of assistant executive officer.
While the selections evoked massive criticism from netizens, one of the bureaucrats, Shah Faesal, demanded registration of a police case in the matter if allegations of unfair practice in the selection process were true.
“If it’s true that the merit list has been rigged then instead of an inquiry there should be an FIR. High time that we take those people to task who push our educated youngsters to the wall and kill their confidence,” Faesal, managing director of J&K Power Development Corporation, wrote on Facebook.
Aroot according to his Facebook profile is the youth president of PDP for Devsar assembly constituency, wherefrom his father lost elections in 2014. He is also cousin of the chief minister Mehbooba Mufti
Reacting to the selection, the opposition National Conference hit out at the Chief Minister saying the PDP’s “tall rhetoric has fallen flat on its face and this selection list is another proof of PDP’s insidious and nepotistic style of politics”.
“Most of the people figuring in the list are either children of close associates of PDP leaders or have direct patronage from the powers that be. The chief minister is directly culpable for this open loot and plunder she has authorised in the state. The state institutions have been ravaged by the PDP and corruption has been institutionalised by the chief minister and her family members,” said National Conference’s state spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu.
He demanded an immediate probe into the entire selection process. “Is this why the state government has placed its leaders as VCs of these boards so that they could adjust their children in these institutions? What is the message you are sending out to our youth?” he demanded.
But Sartaj Madni defended his son’s selection saying children of political workers too have right to exist with dignity. “If they believe our children don’t have right to live with dignity and even raise questions on genuine ways of politicians children getting jobs then all the children of political workers should be brought to Lal Chowk (red square) and hanged,” Madni told a local news agency.
The KVIB vice-chairman Mansoor Hussain said the entire selection process was “fairest one in the history of KVIB”.
He said the Board had no role in the selection process. The state law secretary Abdul Majid Bhat was appointed as controller examination for conduct of written test, he said.
“He (the law secretary) outsourced the examination to an outside agency to ensure transparency,” said Hussain.
“That one candidate selected is son of Sartaj Madni, why is there all this hue and cry. Doesn’t politicians and their sons have right to live?” asked Mansoor. “What about others selected? They are all from poor background. If there would have been anything then my nephew would have also been in the list.”
However the netizens also questioned handing over of the selection process to outside agency when the state has its own recruitment bodies, J&K State Selection Board and Public Service Commission.
“If list was fair why they KVIB Secretary and Law Secretary kept general merit list and the names of selected candidates Hidden? Prior to Interview Aspirants requested CM Mebhooba Mufti to change Members in Interview panel and shift it to SSRB why Action was not taken,” wrote one of the Facebook users.