Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister Sakina Itoo on Sunday, 21 June fired back at the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenging it to seek a probe into all government recruitments carried out over the past 10 years rather than targeting the current administration alone. Her remarks came on the sidelines of International Yoga Day celebrations at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar.

Minister's Counter-Challenge to PDP

Itoo categorically rejected allegations levelled by the PDP regarding recruitments and outsourcing practices in government departments. She argued that if the opposition is genuinely committed to accountability, it must demand an investigation spanning the full decade — not selectively target the National Conference (NC)-led government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

'If the PDP wants a probe into recruitments, it should first seek an investigation into all recruitments made over the last 10 years,' Itoo told reporters, making clear that the current government has 'nothing to hide and is open to any kind of investigation.'

On Outsourcing: 'We Did Not Start This'

The minister also pushed back on criticism of outsourcing practices, clarifying that the system was not introduced by the present administration. She maintained that outsourcing arrangements were already in place before the NC government assumed office, and that it cannot be held responsible for policies initiated under previous tenures. Transparency and accountability, she asserted, remain core priorities of the current dispensation.

What the PDP Has Alleged

The PDP has been critical of the Omar Abdullah government on two fronts: first, alleging that qualified unemployed youth in Jammu and Kashmir are being denied employment opportunities; and second, accusing the administration of engaging outside agencies to set question papers for written recruitment examinations. The party contends that this practice has led to repeated paper leaks, undermining the credibility of the recruitment process across departments.

Broader Political Context

The exchange reflects a deepening political fault line in J&K over public employment — a particularly sensitive issue in a region where youth unemployment remains high and government jobs are seen as a primary route to economic stability. This is not the first time the NC and PDP have clashed over recruitment policy since the restoration of an elected government in the Union Territory. Notably, outsourcing of examination processes has drawn scrutiny in multiple Indian states in recent years, making it a credible flashpoint for opposition parties.

The administration's willingness to invite scrutiny across a full decade, rather than only recent appointments, is a pointed political manoeuvre — one that shifts the burden of proof onto parties that themselves held power during the period in question. Whether a formal inquiry is actually constituted remains to be seen.