J&K Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday demanded immediate scrapping of the existing SO-12 list and preparation of a fresh, transparent, merit-based list through an impartial process.

The party also demanded a high-level independent inquiry into the irregularities, fixing responsibility on every official and individual involved in manipulating the selection process and the resignation of the J&K Sports minister, for what it alleged, “betraying sportspersons” of the Union Territory.

“Betraying J&K’s sportspersons, the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government, has led to the complete collapse of the Sports Ministry and Sports Department,” J&K BJP spokesperson Parimoksh Seth stated while addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu.

J&K BJP media in-charge Dr Pardeep Mahotra and SC Morcha president Dharminder Kumar accompanied Seth in the presser.

“BJP demands strict legal action against the guilty. Government must disclose the complete selection criteria, marks, evaluation records and reasons for exclusion of deserving candidates,” Seth said.

Questioning the fairness of the selection process, Seth asked how four out of five gazetted appointments were made from a single sporting discipline and how 72 beneficiaries belonged to one assembly constituency, alleging that these glaring irregularities pointed towards favouritism and a well-planned conspiracy to deny deserving sportspersons their rightful opportunities.

Addressing the media, Seth alleged that under CM Omar Abdullah’s government, every department was in shambles, with the Sports Department becoming a glaring example of mismanagement, favouritism and administrative failure. He alleged that sportspersons across Jammu and Kashmir completely lost faith in the Sports Ministry, as the Sports Minister failed to discharge his responsibilities and virtually disappeared from public accountability.

“The Sports Minister has lost control over his department and has failed to safeguard the interests of genuine athletes. Having lost the confidence of the sporting fraternity, he has no moral right to continue in office and must immediately resign,” Seth said.

He pointed out serious fraud and manipulation in the recently issued list of outstanding sports persons under SO-12, claiming that deserving athletes who won medals in the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Paralympics and other recognised international events were deliberately ignored.

Instead, preference was allegedly given to individuals from sporting disciplines that were not recognised in these premier international competitions.

He also questioned the Omar Abdullah government over the non-release of salary and other legitimate service benefits to an international-level woman player and coach, terming it another example of the government’s anti-sportsperson approach.

Holding the Chief Minister accountable for the prevailing situation, J&K BJP spokesperson said the government owed answers to the youth and sporting community of Jammu & Kashmir.

Seth said the BJP was standing firmly with every genuine sportsperson of Jammu and Kashmir and would continue its fight until justice was delivered, the guilty were punished and the dignity of deserving athletes was restored.

Jammu, Jul 30: The forecast of fresh spell of heavy rains and consequent high chances of cloudburst-induced flash floods, mud and landslides in upper catchment areas beginning Thursday has put the divisional administration on alert mode with the reiteration of safety advisories.

As per MeT advisory, from July 31 to August 3, though intermittent rain showers are expected across parts of Jammu and Kashmir, yet heavy rainfall is anticipated in parts of Jammu division.

The spell is likely to last till August 4. The weatherman has predicted that across the region, continuous rainfall is not expected.

It may not rain everywhere every day yet Rajouri, Poonch, Chenab valley sub region, Jammu, Reasi, Udhampur are likely to witness fresh spell of late night and early morning heavy showers.

While Jammu and adjoining areas on Thursday witnessed a streak of capricious weather with intermittent light and scattered showers interspersed with sunshine in between, during the day.

The evening saw heavy overcast sky. Heavy rains lashed Rajouri-Poonch leading to flash-floods in some parts, including Mendhar in Poonch.

R S Pura, Arnia and adjoining areas of Jammu district too witnessed brief spell of heavy showers on Thursday evening.

During the past 24 hours, Udhampur, Bhaderwah, Banihal, Batote, Kishtwar, and Doda also recorded light showers.

Forecasting intermittent rain showers between July 31 to August 2, the MeT Department has cautioned that although prolonged rainfall is not expected, there remains a very high risk of flash floods due to intense localised downpours and isolated cloudburst events cannot be ruled out, with the possibility of landslides and shooting stones in vulnerable hilly areas.

In consonance with these forecasts, the district administration and the Police have reiterated the safety advisories, already in place, for citizens to stay away from the banks of water bodies.

The people dwelling in low-lying areas have been asked to stay alert. Meanwhile, the body of youth, who along with his two friends visited the Tawi riverfront area late Monday evening and went missing, was retrieved on Thursday.

Police were investigating into the case amid conflicting versions about the circumstances in which he had gone missing and finally his body was recovered after a hectic joint search operation by the Police, SDRF and NDRF personnel.

The search operation lasted three days. His body was sent to Government Medical College (GMC) hospital Jammu for post-mortem.