“How Can Government Resolve Peoples’ Issues If It Can’t Spot an Imposter?”: Omar Abdullah on Gujarat Conman

GG News Bureau

Jammu, 21st March. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah took a jibe at the Centre on Monday over alleged conman Kiran Patel who was arrested for impersonating as a government official in the Union Territory, questioning how a government that was ‘tricked’ by an imposter could be expected to resolve valley issues.

“You must have seen that a man (Kiran Patel) came here and told the government here that he works in the PMO (Prime Minister Office), they didn’t even try to find out,” the National Conference leader said while addressing a rally in Jammu.

He also slammed the Centre for Patel’s ability to dupe Union Territory officials into providing him with ‘Z plus’ security and a bulletproof SUV, among other perks, claiming that this occurred in the territory because it is a “imposed government,” not an elected one.

He went even further, accusing the BJP of failing to provide security for the ex-ministers who have faced threats.

“We have a colleague, an ex-minister who faced attacks and doesn’t get an escort vehicle even if he requests with folded hands…This is the difference between an elected government and a government imposed from the top,” Abdullah said, further asking how can a government that doesn’t know the difference between an actual officer at the PMO and an imposter, to resolve people’s actual issues.

On March 3, Jammu and Kashmir police arrested a man from Gujarat who was impersonating a senior official from the Prime Minister’s Office in Srinagar.

According to the police statement, the CID wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police informed the police about the arrival of an impersonator in Kashmir on March 2, 2023.

A team of Jammu and Kashmir Police rushed to the hotel where the man was staying, the statement added.

The man was identified as Kiran Bhai Patel, a resident of Ahmedabad, Gujarat who was impersonating himself as Additional Director (Strategy and campaigns) PMO New Delhi, the statement said.

As his replies were found suspicious, he was taken to Police Station Nishat wherein he admitted his crime. Ten fake visiting cards and two mobiles were seized from him, the statement added.

Cases under sections 419,420,467,468, and 471 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) were registered in Police Station Nishat on March 2, 2023, and the investigation was taken up.

According to the statement, a team of SP East Srinagar, SDPO Nehru Park, and SHO Nishat are leading the investigation.

The accused Kiran Bhai Patel was arrested on March 3, 2023, and is in police remand up to March 17, 2023, the statement added.

Many relevant persons have been examined in this case. The case is at the initial stage of the investigation. Further details of this case will be shared later on, the statement said.

Abdullah, on the other hand, pressured the administration to hire Aptech Limited to conduct various recruitment exams in the union territory and demanded an investigation into the matter.

“This governmnet is not at all trying to resolve the issues of the people. We want inquiry into who brought Aptech here and where did the fraud take place. The youth should be reassured that their future won’t be toyed with,” he added.

The Jammu and Kashmir government’s recent decision to reconsider Aptech Ltd’s ability to conduct various exams, including the Finance Account Assistant exam, sparked protests.

“The Lieutenant Governor administration should rise to the occasion and take necessary measures for the larger benefit of the youth of Jammu and Kashmir,” demanded the protestors.

He also cleared his party’s stand on the J-K LG Manoj Sinha’s criticism of NC, and PDP over the recruitment process in the UT and said that they are not “advocating” that hardcore militants should be given government jobs.

“Nobody is advocating that hardcore militants should be given government jobs but it is also wrong to punish somebody just because they have the misfortune of being related to a terrorist. This is not the way to win the hearts and minds of people and this is not something that we will ever support,” he added.