GK Top NewsLatest NewsWorldKashmirBusinessEducationSportsPhotosVideosToday's Paper

NC makes faux pas; opponents aim barbs

Notwithstanding its (NC) official clarification to set things right and even swift action against the person responsible, the political opponents gleefully seized the opportunity to target the party and leadership
12:11 AM Jan 31, 2025 IST | SHUCHISMITA
featuredImage featuredImage
NC makes faux pas; opponents aim barbs

Jammu, Jan 30: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) Thursday made a real faux pas on the issue of “hiked honorarium of Special Police Officers (SPOs)” though it was rectified also yet not before its “unverified posts” on social media had already gone viral.

Notwithstanding its (NC) official clarification to set things right and even swift action against the person responsible, the political opponents gleefully seized the opportunity to target the party and leadership.

Advertisement

Developments unfolded with the posts on the party’s official ‘X’ handle and the official account of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announcing “hike in SPOs’ honorarium”, this afternoon, taking almost everyone by surprise.

“Delighted to announce a hike in SPO honorarium for Jammu and Kashmir – 1. New recruits Rs 12000 per month; 2. 5 years Rs 18,000 per month 3. 10 years Rs 24,000 per month 4. 15 years Rs 30000 per month # ApkiSarkaarApkeSath,” read the post on party’s official handle with the picture of Chief Minister, with a tagline “Another promise fulfilled.”

Advertisement

Similar post was there on the Chief Minister’s official account.

Within no minutes, the posts went viral.

Surprising element was that SPOs’ issues are to be dealt with by the Home Department, which directly comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs, under the existing “dual power structure” of J&K Union Territory setup.

However, before they could court further controversy, a few minutes after they were deleted from both the handles.

NC through its official handle also issued a clarification.

“A recent post concerning SPOs’ honorarium was put out from various handles connected to the party & the Chief Minister. This post should not have been put out & was done without any attempt to verify or cross-check the information being put out. While we have been strongly advocating for an increase in the honorarium and we are making every effort to see this done, it hasn’t happened till now,” the post read.

“The person responsible has been taken to task & has been divested of his responsibility as Social Media Advisor to VP JKNC,” it added.

However, the political opponents did not leave the opportunity to aim barbs.

Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone, taking a dig at NC, in a post on X, wrote, “The salaries of SPOs are funded by MHA through SRE. Still, if the state government has created or invented a way to supplement their salaries—some clarification on that. Per se it is an MHA domain.”

Lone also mentioned that his post was a repost after the National Conference (NC) handle on X allegedly deleted a similar post.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and J&K spokesperson Altaf Thakur, seeking an explanation from the NC leadership, accused it of misleading the public and exploiting the issue for political gain.

“The NC must stop misleading the people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly our SPOs, who serve in the most challenging conditions. Instead of pointing fingers, they must clarify their own track record regarding SPO welfare and salary disbursement during their tenure in power,” Thakur said.

“The BJP-led administration has taken multiple steps to enhance the salaries and working conditions of SPOs. Unlike previous regimes, we have ensured better financial assistance and job security for these brave personnel,” he said.

Thakur called upon the NC leadership, particularly Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, to clarify their role in the mismanagement of SPO salaries when they were in power.

“The National Conference has ruled J&K for decades. If there were irregularities in salary disbursement, they must answer for it. The people deserve to know why SPOs faced financial struggles under their governance,” he remarked.

 

 

Advertisement