JAMMU, June 4, 2026 : The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the BJP, on Thursday staged a protest in Jammu against the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference (NC) government, accusing it of failing to fulfil its electoral promise of providing employment opportunities to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
Led by BJYM Jammu and Kashmir President Arun Prabhat, scores of party activists assembled at Kachi Chawani and raised slogans against the government, alleging that it had failed to address the growing concerns of unemployment among educated youth in the Union Territory.
During the protest, demonstrators also burnt an effigy of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as a mark of protest against what they described as the government’s “anti-youth policies.”
Speaking to reporters, Prabhat alleged that the National Conference had promised to provide one lakh jobs and generate fresh employment opportunities in its 2024 election manifesto but had failed to deliver on those commitments even after assuming office.
He claimed that instead of creating jobs and filling vacant positions in government departments, the administration had opted to surrender posts that had remained vacant for nearly two years, thereby reducing employment opportunities for aspiring candidates.
Referring to a recent government order, Prabhat said the administration had decided to surrender long-vacant posts under the guise of austerity measures and had further stated that such posts would not be revived in the future.
“By deciding to permanently surrender these vacant positions, the government has effectively signed the death warrant of the employment aspirations of thousands of educated youth. This decision is unfortunate and reflects a complete disregard for the concerns of unemployed youngsters,” he said.
The BJYM leader further alleged that nearly two years after the National Conference came to power, unemployment continues to remain one of the most pressing issues facing Jammu and Kashmir’s youth, many of whom are struggling to find meaningful employment despite possessing educational qualifications.
Prabhat also accused the government of imposing austerity measures on employment-related matters while simultaneously increasing expenditure on official protocol arrangements and administrative expenses.
“The youth of Jammu and Kashmir have come out on the streets today to remind the government of the promises it made before the elections. The government cannot escape accountability by abandoning vacant posts and shrinking employment opportunities,” he asserted.
Demanding the immediate withdrawal of the order related to freezing and surrendering vacant positions, BJYM activists alleged that the National Conference government had betrayed the trust reposed in it by the youth during the elections.
The youth wing warned that its agitation would continue until the government reverses the decision and takes concrete measures to create adequate employment opportunities for the educated unemployed across Jammu and Kashmir.
The protest highlights the growing political debate over employment generation and government recruitment policies in the Union Territory, with opposition parties increasingly targeting the administration over job creation and youth welfare issues.
