Minister Sakina Itoo hits back at Sajad Lone for ‘misleading’ public over reservation issue

Srinagar, April 05: Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo today lashed out at People’s Conference President and MLA Handwara, Sajad Lone, for “misleading” the public over the dismissal of a petition related to reservations in Jammu and Kashmir.

She accused Lone of doing politics over the issue, stating that the filing of the affidavit does not reflect the government's final stance on the matter.

She said that the government could file a fresh affidavit in court as the “current reservation policy is irrational and needs to be reviewed.”

“Cabinet Sub-Committee was formed to frame a balanced and rational policy. Why is Sajad Lone impatient? Let him wait for the committee to submit its report instead of misleading people,” she was quoted by news agency Kashmir News Trust as saying.

Minister Sakina Itoo clarified that while the government has challenged the petition, it was not for a blanket support for the current reservation structure. “We are committed to reforming the policy. This government, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, does not endorse the status quo. We want fairness and rationality in reservation,” she said.

Earlier, Sajad Lone slammed the government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for seeking the dismissal of a petition related to reservations in Jammu and Kashmir. In a post on X, the People’s Conference leader said that the Jammu and Kashmir government has filed an affidavit before the High Court, making a plea that the petition on reservations in Jammu and Kashmir is frivolous and should be dismissed.

“In an affidavit filed before the J & K High Court yesterday by J&K Government in the case of Zahoor Ahmed Bhat and others vs UT of J & K, pertaining to reservations, J&K government has submitted that the petition is frivolous and sought its outright dismissal,” Sajad Lone’s post read.