Srinagar, Mar 15: Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone has strongly criticized the existing reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir, terming it heavily skewed against the Kashmiri-speaking population. Expressing his dismay over what he described as a “shocker,” Lone argued that the extent of loss suffered by Kashmir in terms of quotas is far greater than previously anticipated.
Addressing concerns over regional disparities in the issuance of category certificates, Lone revealed that the distribution of reservations is overwhelmingly tilted in favor of Jammu.
According to him, data since April 1, 2023, clearly indicates an alarming imbalance. While the Scheduled Caste (SC) category saw 67,112 certificates issued exclusively in Jammu, Kashmir received none. The situation is similar for the International Border (IB) category, where all 551 certificates were granted to Jammu, leaving Kashmir entirely excluded.
He as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust pointed out that Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservations, despite being meant for a marginalized community, have also been disproportionately allocated. Of the total ST certificates issued, Jammu secured 4,59,493, whereas Kashmir was given only 79,813, making up a mere 14.7% of the total. Similarly, in the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category, 92.3% of the certificates were distributed in Jammu, while Kashmir received only 7.7%. The same disparity exists across other reserved categories, including Actual Line of Control (ALC) and Reserved Backward Areas (RBA).
Lone contended that the reservation system appears to be structurally rigged against the people of Kashmir, particularly the Kashmiri-speaking population. Even within the ST category, those residing in Kashmir have been put at a disadvantage, receiving only a fraction of the benefits compared to their counterparts in Jammu. He noted that although the figures for the RBA category seem relatively close, when adjusted for population differences, Kashmir still emerges as the loser. With Kashmir’s population being approximately seven percent higher than Jammu’s, Lone argued that the numbers should have reflected a proportionate distribution, which is clearly not the case.
Raising further concerns, the Peoples Conference chairman criticized the delay in addressing these grievances. He recalled that the government had set up a committee on December 10, 2024, to examine these issues. However, despite an initial assurance that the panel would submit its report within six months, there is still no clear timeline for its findings.
Calling for immediate corrective measures, Lone stressed that the existing reservation policy must be revisited to ensure justice and fair representation for all communities. His remarks are expected to spark further debate over the reservation framework in Jammu and Kashmir, with political and social groups likely to take a stand on the matter in the coming days. [KNT]
