Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Jun 19: “It has been six months since the Jammu and Kashmir government pledged to resolve the contentious reservation issue through a subcommittee report. Yet, that deadline has long passed, leaving thousands of aspirants—particularly students preparing for competitive exams—feeling betrayed and disillusioned,” People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed Ur Rehman Para said on Thursday.
“Six months ago, the J&K government assured us they would resolve the reservation issue via a subcommittee report. That deadline has come and gone, and in the meantime, thousands of students are heartbroken, their trust in the system shattered, and their futures on hold,” Para stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
He further criticised the government’s stance, saying, “This is a deliberate denial of justice. These students have already endured violence, lockdowns, and lost opportunities. Now, as they seek fair representation and rationalized reservation policies, the government is pushing them further to the margins.”
The MLA Pulwama said the NC government possesses the authority to overturn policies imposed by the BJP with a single administrative order. “But the party that vowed to reverse the BJP’s damage is now complicit in perpetuating it. If this is their response to a youth issue within their control, what does that say about their stance on Article 370, statehood, or the Wakf Amendment Bill—matters that require them to speak truth to power?”
He said that eroding merit in Kashmir is not just a political concern but also a national security issue. “J&K is a border state where youth are vulnerable to militancy, radicalism, and cross-border influences. If Kashmiri youth are left hopeless, it will only empower subversive elements, destabilizing a generation and jeopardizing the future.”
Para warned that government inaction risks pushing young people into a dilemma: either pursue education and face an uncertain future, or oppose a system that has failed them. “The government must act now with the urgency this issue demands. Continuing to hide behind excuses while students’ futures hang in the balance is unacceptable. Rationalizing reservation and ensuring proportional representation is the only fair way forward, and it must be implemented without further delay.”
The PDP leader reaffirmed support for the students, saying, “We stand with our students—free of political affiliations—in their pain and concerns. Their struggle is genuine, and we will fight alongside them until justice is achieved.”
Many students across J&K have been demanding a fair and proportional reservation policy, criticising the current system, which was enforced under the previous BJP administration, for disregarding merit and failing to reflect Jammu and Kashmir’s socio-economic realities.
The subcommittee tasked with addressing these concerns has remained silent, providing no public report or update since the promise was made six months ago.
