Gupta slams BJP for youth unemployment; challenges Sunil Sharma to account for decade of misrule

• Questions BJP's Decade of inaction on unemployment, scandals, and regularization of employees 

JAMMU: Ratan Lal Gupta, Provincial President of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference has strongly rebutted the allegations made by Sunil Sharma, Leader of Opposition, regarding the NC government’s efforts on youth employment and nepotism. Gupta dismissed Sharma's statements as a mere attempt to deflect attention from the BJP's decade-long misrule and its own failure to address the pressing issues of youth unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir. 

In his response, Gupta posed a series of pointed questions to Sunil Sharma, asking,“What steps did the BJP take to address youth unemployment while it was in power with the PDP and later directly administering Jammu and Kashmir through the Governor’s rule?” He further questioned, “Despite holding power at the center for over a decade, why did the BJP fail to carry out any recruitment for belt forces or crucial DG requirements in the Jammu region?” Gupta also highlighted, “How does Sharma explain the numerous recruitment processes during the BJP's tenure that ended up in court due to gross irregularities, leaving youth jobless and frustrated?” He added, “What did the BJP do to regularize the 60,000 casual, contractual, and need-based employees who have been waiting for years for permanent status? 

Gupta pointed out that it is the BJP’s “wrong policies and indifference” that have made Jammu and Kashmir one of the most employment-deprived regions in India. He reminded Sharma that “government data supports this undeniable fact,” and emphasized that the BJP cannot escape the consequences of its failure to address the issue of unemployment. 

In contrast, Gupta emphasized that the Omar Abdullah-led NC government inherited a difficult situation but has been working relentlessly to address these challenges. “Nearly 25,000 posts have been referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) and Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC), with a strong focus on transparency and merit-based recruitment,” Gupta stated. He further added, “Additionally, the regularization process for contractual employees is progressing well, and the government remains fully committed to securing the rights of workers who have been in precarious employment for years.” 

Gupta also asserted, “If anyone is accountable for the lack of job opportunities and irregularities, it is the BJP, who failed to deliver on their promises to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.” He also pointed out the various scandals, including the Jal Shakti scandal, under the BJP’s rule, which, as Gupta noted, “further exposed the party’s corruption and incompetence.”

Instead of accusing others, Gupta challenged Sunil Sharma to answer these questions and “hold his own party accountable for the mess they have left behind.” He concluded, “The people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve answers, and it is high time the BJP stop deflecting blame and start facing the truth.”