Omar Abdullah hits back at JP Nadda, says J&K SSB paper leak happened under LG rule

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday mounted a strong counterattack against the BJP after Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda blamed the NC-Congress government for the J&K SSB paper leak, asserting that the controversy actually belonged to the Lieutenant Governor’s administration in 2022, two years before his government assumed office.

Calling Nadda’s statement “factually incorrect”, Omar questioned the silence over the CBI probe and the High-Level Committee constituted following directions of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, asking the Union Minister to explain why their findings have never been placed in the public domain.

strongly responding, Omar said the BJP leader’s claim was factually incorrect and reminding him the scandal occurred in 2022 under the Lieutenant Governor’s administration whereas the NC-Congress government came to power in 2024.

This led to a CBI enquiry and also investigations into the scandal by a high level committee. However, outcome of both enquiries was not in the public domain.

The rebuttal came after Nadda, during a press conference in Delhi, cited the J&K SSB paper leak while attacking the NC-Congress government.

Omar wrote on X “You are absolutely correct about the SSB paper leak in J&K @JPNadda ji but you have got the date wrong. It was 2022. The government wasn’t of NC & Congress. It was a government headed by Lt. Governor but thank you for reminding everyone of this failure. It involved these observations & orders of the J&K High Court. We have no idea what happened to the High Level Committee or its report. Perhaps you can share that with us in your next press conference”.

Omar also attached a copy of the High Court’s order directing the government to constitute a high level committee headed by not less than a retired High Court judge to enquire into the conduct of examination”.

Turning the attack on the BJP, the Chief Minister said Nadda had inadvertently reminded people of a major administrative failure under the Lieutenant Governor’s rule. He also questioned the fate of the High-Level Committee constituted to probe the paper leak, saying there was no information in the public domain on its findings despite observations and directions from the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

“We have no idea what happened to the High-Level Committee or its report. Perhaps you can share that with us in your next press conference”,  Omar said in a pointed swipe at the Union Minister.

The exchange has triggered a fresh political row over the 2022 SSB paper leak, with the BJP and the National Conference once again trading charges over accountability for the recruitment scandal.

Later talking to media persons, Omar said not one but many papers leaked during LG’s rule and enquiry was ordered. The case is with CBI. Some blacklisted companies were given responsibility for recruitment but I have no knowledge about the outcome of these enquiries. You have to raise this question at some other forum, Omar said indirectly pointing towards the LG.