Kashmir-based parties accuse Omar of ‘engaging in theatrics’ on reservation rationalisation issue

Kashmir-based political parties on Wednesday alleged that the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was “engaging in theatrics” on the issue of rationalisation of reservation.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and People’s Conference hit out at the NC government over the issue.

“No rationalisation of reservation or age relaxation despite being promised as NCs manifesto guarantee and verbal assurances. Instead, the NC government is engaging in theatrics by playing pass the parcel and blame both to absolve itself of any responsibility. No wonder youth across J&K are in utter distress and despair. Shameful,” PDP leader Iltija Mufti said on X.

People’s Conference chief Sajad Lone in a post on X stated, “I will reiterate that in the context of the reservations issue, the elected government is passing on the buck. And trying to create a wedge in the Kashmiri ranks, and pit one Kashmiri against the other. The elected government can easily restore district and divisional recruitment through an act in the Assembly. Please can someone enlighten me? What are the disadvantages of district and divisional recruitment? Why we are not restoring to it?”

He further said “In a developing economy as ours, public sector jobs get spread out across all regions, bringing in regional inclusivity in jobs. Reservations get restricted to only those reserved categories who are domiciled in the district or division. That will bring open merit in Kashmir division to 70 to 80 %. Instead if what has been stated so far and what has not been contradicted by the elected government so far, is true, the only reserved category where Kashmiris benefitted, The RBA, will be slashed.” The problem, Lone said, lies between Jammu and Kashmir with the “dice loaded heavily in favour of Jammu”.