Omar Abdullah Rebuts JP Nadda Over JKSSB Paper Leak

A political dispute erupted on July 23, 2026, after Union Minister JP Nadda incorrectly claimed that a 2022 paper leak within the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) happened under a National Conference and Congress-led government. Nadda used the claim during a press conference to accuse Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi of being selective about paper leaks, particularly those in Congress-governed states.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah countered the assertions on X, clarifying that the leak occurred in 2022 while the region was administered by the Lieutenant Governor, as no elected government existed at the time. Abdullah noted that his administration did not take office until October 2024. He further questioned the status of a high-level probe committee mandated by the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court to investigate the irregularities, stating that the report's findings remain unknown.

The original 2022 scandal resulted in the cancellation of selection lists for 3,500 posts, including sub-inspectors and junior engineers, following allegations of malpractice involving the firm Aptech Limited. In response to Abdullah's correction, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused the Chief Minister of lying and cited separate paper leaks in Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka to maintain that accountability should not be selective.