Selection of Madni’s son challenged on grounds of political favoritism

Srinagar: The selection of son of ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice-president Sartaj Madni as executive officer in the J&K Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB) has attracted criticism from politicians, bureaucrats and people of other shades.
Taking a lead in challenging the selection of Madni’s son the main opposition National Conference termed the selection “institutionalization of corruption” and people of other shades are seeking explain from the government and allege that Madni’s son has made his way to a key position through a “fraudulent selection”.
Syed Aroot Madni, son of Sartaj Madni the PDP Vice President and Maternal uncle of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has found his place in the selection list of the Executive Officers that was issued by the Board, headed by PDP general secretary Peerzada Mansoor Hussain, a few days ago. Interestingly Hussain’s nephew has also found his name in the waiting list for the post of assistant executive officer.
While the selections evoked massive criticism from people of all shades, one of the top IAS selectees of Central Civil Services Examination in yesteryears Shah Faesal, demanded registration of a police case in the matter if allegations of unfair practice in the selection process were true.
“If it’s true that the merit list has been rigged then instead of an inquiry there should be an FIR. High time that we take those people to task who push our educated youngsters to the wall and kill their confidence,” Faesal, managing director of J&K Power Development Corporation, wrote on Facebook.
Aroot according to his Facebook profile is the youth president of PDP for Devsar assembly constituency, wherefrom his father lost elections in 2014. He is also maternal cousin of the chief minister Mehbooba Mufti
Reacting to the selection, the opposition National Conference hit out at the Chief Minister saying the PDP’s “tall rhetoric has fallen flat on its face and this selection list is another proof of PDP’s insidious and nepotistic style of politics”.
“Most of the people put in the list are either children of close associates of PDP leaders or have direct patronage from the powers that be. The chief minister is directly culpable for this open loot and plunder she has authorised in the state. The state institutions have been ravaged by the PDP and corruption has been institutionalised by the chief minister and her family members,” said National Conference’s state spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu.
He demanded an immediate probe into the entire selection process. “Is this why the state government has placed its leaders as VCs of these boards so that they could adjust their children in these institutions? What is the message you are sending out to our youth?” he demanded.
Defending his son’s selection Madni told a local news gathering agency KNS”children of political workers too have right to exist with dignity. If they believe our children don’t have right to live with dignity and even raise questions on genuine ways of politicians children getting jobs then all the children of political workers should be brought to Lal Chowk (red square) and hanged”.
The KVIB vice-chairman Mansoor Hussain said the entire selection process was “fairest one in the history of KVIB”. He said the Board had no role in the selection process. The state law secretary Abdul Majid Bhat was appointed as controller examination for conduct of written test, he said. “He (the law secretary) outsourced the examination to an outside agency to ensure transparency,” said Hussain.
The critics are questioning the handing over of the selection process to outside agency when the state has its own recruitment bodies, J&K State Selection Board and Public Service Commission.