Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. File
| Photo Credit: ANI
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday (December 15, 2025) said the investigation agencies should act against those BJP legislators who were allegedly interfering in the power projects of national importance in the Chenab Valley’s Kishtwar district.
Referring to the recent allegations of political interference by the Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL), constructing the 850- Megawatt Ratle Hydroelectric Project in J&K’s Kishtwar, Mr. Abdullah said, “It should be viewed seriously. These are institutions of national importance and no interference should be allowed. Such projects are not just for J&K but the entire country.”
Mr. Abdullah said there were allegations of interference against an Opposition legislator in this specific case but reality was two Opposition legislators were involved in interfering in projects. Kishtwar constituency is represented by a BJP MLA.
“If allegations were against our Minister, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) would have raided him. Investigating agencies should act in such cases,” Mr. Abdullah said.
He also lamented that the Lieutenant Governor administration has not handed over the power corporations to the elected government so far. “I am the power Minister but power corporations are yet to be handed over to the elected government,” the J&K Chief Minister added.
A few days ago, the MEIL had threatened to pull out from the project. It alleged the workers of the project were under “a lot of pressure” and “locals and politicians were acting in undemocratic way and pressuring to hire locals in spite of not having any vacancy”.
The Ratle project is a run of river scheme located on River Chenab at village Drabshalla, Kishtwar. The project was approved in 2021 at a total cost of ₹5281.94 crores. The scheduled commissioning date is set for May 2026.
Meanwhile, Harpal Singh, Joint Chief Operating Officer of the MIEL, on Monday wrote a letter to the Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, and demanded a First Information Report (FIR) against social media influencer Asif Iqbal Naik over “deliberately publishing false, defamatory, misleading, and threatening content” online.
“Our officer, Syed Burhan Andrabi, is being targeted. The accused explicitly named our officer and his statements amount to gross misrepresentation of government authority, calculated to mislead the public and incite hostility against MEIL officials,” Mr. Singh said, in the letter.
The MIEL officer said the content of Mr. Naik was “clearly intended to intimidate MEIL officers, create fear and pressure at the project site, and disrupt the lawful execution of a strategic infrastructure project”.
“The video is being widely circulated, and inflammatory comments posted by viewers have further aggravated the situation, creating a clear and present threat to safety, public order, and workplace harmony. In view of the gravity of the matter, we humbly pray that your good office may be pleased to register an FIR against Mr. Asif Iqbal Naik,” Mr. Singh said.
The MIEL officer has sought an investigation into the matter. “Arrest, if warranted, and prosecute the accused strictly in accordance with the law. Take any other action deemed fit in the interest of justice, public safety, and protection of the lawful execution of a national project,” the MIEL letter said.
Published – December 16, 2025 02:42 am IST
