Reservation data has exposed regional disparity: Sajad Lone slams Omar govt

The details of reservation certificates issued to members of the SC/ST, OBC and other categories in Jammu and Kashmir have ignited a debate over alleged regional disparity. The figures, presented by the government in the Legislative Assembly, have drawn criticism from People’s Conference (PC) chief and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone.

According to the data, 67,112 SC certificates have been issued in the Jammu region since April 1, 2023, while none were issued in the Kashmir region. This discrepancy is attributed to the fact that Kashmir is a Muslim-majority region with a negligible Hindu population, which primarily constitutes the SC category.

In contrast, 4,59,493 ST certificates were issued in Jammu, compared to 79,813 in Kashmir during the same period. Sajad Lone, in a statement on X, expressed shock over the figures, stating, “This is a shocker. Regionally, the loss due to reservation is much higher than anticipated. I had posed questions pertaining to reservations, focusing on regional disparities across all categories.”

Lone highlighted that 100 per cent of SC certificates were issued in Jammu, while Kashmir received none. Similarly, 85.3 per cent of ST certificates were issued in Jammu, compared to 14.7 per cent in Kashmir. He also pointed out disparities in other categories:

Under the Actual Line of Control category, 268 villages in Jammu benefited, while only 16 villages in Kashmir received benefits. Under the International Border category, 551 villages in Jammu were covered, while Kashmir received no benefits, as it has no IB areas. Under the Reservation for Backward Areas, 1,379 villages in Jammu and 1,229 in Kashmir were included. Additionally, the government revealed that 27,420 economically weaker section (EWS) certificates were issued in Jammu, compared to 2,273 in Kashmir.

Lone alleged the data revealed a systemic bias against the Kashmiri-speaking population, including ST and EWS communities in the region. “The net loss of quotas to the Kashmiri-speaking population is of a much higher scale than we had thought. The whole reservation concept is rigged against them,” he stated.

Also, National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi said there cannot be a bigger political catastrophe than an elected government deceiving its people.

The Srinagar MP said if it was not a clerical error, “it then is a blatant lie and betrayal with the students who raised the issue with their elected government and showed faith and trust in the word and response given to them”.

“There can't be a political catastrophe bigger than this when an elected government deceives its people,” he said.

“I will not sit quiet on this. I will pick the matter from where I left it after the assurance given to the students,” he added.