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

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

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said PDP leaders and workers in the Valley have been placed under house arrest to prevent a peaceful protest against outsourcing of government jobs.

“This selective helplessness exposes the hypocrisy of the National Conference. Their hypocrisy is further exposed when departments like Housing, Revenue and Forest seek the help of the police to demolish houses of poor and vulnerable families in the name of anti-encroachment initiatives,” Ms. Mufti said.

He said the party’s youth wing “bravely protested against the NC government’s backdoor appointments despite police crackdowns, detentions and house arrests.” “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 PDP youth leaders, who held street protests in Srinagar, called for “immediate reversal of the decision and demanding transparent and merit-based recruitment”. According to PDP, protests were held in Anantnag, Budgam and Bandipora districts.

The NC rejected allegations that 25,000 employees in different departments were selected through private agencies. J&K Minister Sakina Itoo denied the PDP allegations, saying that neither outsourcing was initiated by the NC nor recruitment procedures were compromised.” “The concept of outsourcing was inherited from previous governments,” Ms. Itoo said.