Mehbooba hits out at Omar govt over BOPEE scam

Opposition PDP today lashed out at the ruling National Conference-Congress coalition in Jammu and Kashmir with the allegation that those behind a recently busted scam in entrance tests for professional courses in the state had for long enjoyed protection from those in power.
Asserting that the ruling coalition members should retire and hide themselves from public gaze, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti claimed that the scandal had been common knowledge since June, 2012, but the police could not proceed against the alleged culprits as they enjoyed political protection.
"The BOPEE scandal has been in the public domain since June, 2012... (but) the police could proceed against the culprits only under orders from the court... The (accused) enjoyed protection from political masters," Mehbooba said.

Mushtaq Ahmad Peer, former chairman of the Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE), is the prime suspect in the scam which saw question papers of tests being sold illegally to candidates. He was arrested by police on November 23 and is currently in judicial custody.
Mehbooba also flayed the Omar Abdullah government for what she termed were false promises made to the people of the state.
"For 40 years, NC has failed to make the state self- reliant... How can Omar seek another term on the same promise if his party has not fulfilled the same in its history," she said.

Mehbooba alleged that the party had nothing to show by way of performance and was now resorting to gimmicks and familiar electoral tricks to win over the people.

"The government is misleading people by laying foundation stones of projects that are never going to be completed," she charged.
She further slammed NC for the reported claims that it would make J-K self-reliant by generating hydel power.
"Power generated by our projects is illuminating the lives of people outside the state, but the residents of J-K have been denied access to it," she said.