PDP says “party leaders prevented from protesting outsourcing of govt. jobs in J&K’

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti. File. | Photo credit: ANI

The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday (Jun 30, 2026) accused the administration of cracking down on its leaders “to stop street protests against the outsourcing of 25,000 jobs” in Jammu and Kashmir.

PDP President Mehbooba Mufti said PDP leaders and workers across the valley were placed under house arrest to prevent peaceful protest against outsourcing of government jobs.

“This selective helplessness exposes the duplicity of the National Conference. Their duplicity is further exposed when ministries like Housing, Revenue and Forest willingly accept police assistance to demolish the houses of poor and vulnerable families in the name of anti-encroachment drives,” Ms Mufti said.

She said the party’s youth wing “bravely protested against the backdoor of the NC government, despite police crackdowns, detention and house arrest”. “Speaking truth to power is never easy, but your determination and resilience have shown that no amount of intimidation can silence the voice of justice,” Ms Mufti said.

Many young PDP leaders who staged street protests in Srinagar called for “immediate reversal of the decision and demanded transparent recruitment based on merit”. According to the PDP, protests were held in Anantnag, Budgam and Bandipora districts.

The ruling NC has denied allegations of selection of 25,000 employees in various departments through private agencies. J&K minister Sakina Itoo refuted the PDP’s allegations and said that neither the NC had introduced outsourcing nor the recruitment procedures had been compromised.” “The concept of outsourcing was inherited from previous governments,” Ms Itoo said.

Published – 30 Jun 2026 23:41 IST