Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Mar 15: Peoples Conference president and Handwara MLA, Sajad Gani Lone on Saturday said that the reservation system in Jammu and Kashmir is depriving Kashmiri students of opportunities and leading to their exclusion from key positions.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, he said the data revealed in response to his reveals a vast regional disparity in the implementation of reservations, disproportionately affecting Kashmiris.
“I am not against reservations, but I am against the murder of merit,” Lone said, adding that the current system is hindering meritorious students from excelling.
He said that while 60% of seats are reserved, only 9.22% of that quota benefits Kashmiris, whereas 50.78% is allocated to Jammu.
Lone said that apart from the 60% reservation issue, a bigger problem lies in the allocation within reserved categories.
“The data clearly shows that Kashmiris are being crowded out even before reservations are applied,” he said. He claimed that the disparity is not based on policy but on deliberate administrative actions, particularly by officers from Kashmir who, according to him, fail to implement reservations in their own region while ensuring it benefits others.
Lone alleged that the exclusion of Kashmiris from key government jobs and competitive exams is part of a long-standing systemic issue dating back to 1989. “For decades, this has been silently carried out, and the loss is so deep that it may take a century to undo the damage,” he said.
He added that this exclusion would lead to a generational setback.
Lone called for a new framework of “protective action” for Kashmiris, arguing that affirmative action alone is not enough.
He said, “If you cannot provide proportional representation, you cannot make a majority community completely non-existent. There has to be a minimum percentage ensured.”
He also claimed that Kashmiris pursuing higher studies abroad are facing hurdles in obtaining passports, further restricting their academic and professional growth. “If they are not allowed merit-based opportunities here, and they are also denied chances abroad, where do they go?” he asked.
