Govt passing buck on reservation issue: Sajad Lone

Srinagar, Dec 3: J&K Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara Sajad Lone on Wednesday asserted that the NC-led government is not only evading accountability on the reservations issue but is also actively “aggravating internal fissures within Kashmiri society” by shifting responsibility instead of addressing the core concerns.

In a statement issued on social media, Lone said he would “reiterate that in the context of the reservations issue, the elected government is passing on the buck” and highlighted that those in power were “trying to create a wedge in the Kashmiri ranks and pit one Kashmiri against the other.”

Calling the government’s hesitation unjustified, he stressed that “the elected government can easily restore district and divisional recruitment through an act in the Assembly.” PC President then posed a pointed question: “Please can someone enlighten me—what are the disadvantages of district and divisional recruitment? Why are we not restoring them?”

Lone listed what he termed the clear advantages of restoring district and divisional recruitment. He said, “In a developing economy as ours, public sector jobs get spread out across all regions, bringing regional inclusivity in jobs.” He added that under such a system, “reservations get restricted to only those reserved categories who are domiciled in the district or division,” which in turn “will bring open merit in Kashmir division to 70 to 80 percent.”