By Pravin Kumar
Opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Omar Abdullah-led government for its decision to refer the Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) report on the contentious reservation policy to the Law Department for further scrutiny.
Labeling the move a deliberate delay tactic, opposition leaders accused the National Conference (NC)-Congress coalition of betraying job aspirants and students while failing to deliver on promises to address the reservation crisis.
The J&K Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, met on Wednesday evening at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar to discuss the CSC report, which was tasked with reviewing the reservation policy for government jobs and educational institutions.
After brief deliberations, the Cabinet directed the CSC to rework the report to address unspecified legal shortcomings and forwarded it to the Law Department, without setting a specific timeline.
The decision has sparked outrage among general category aspirants, who view it as a stalling tactic to avoid addressing their demands for a fairer quota system.
Opposition’s Scathing Criticism
Opposition leaders wasted no time in exposing what they described as the government’s “cluelessness” and lack of intent to resolve the reservation issue.
People’s Conference Chairman Sajjad Lone accused the Omar Abdullah administration of procedural irregularities and deliberate procrastination. In a post on X, Lone wrote, “I have all along maintained that the government is clueless on reservations and has no intentions of doing anything. Now, coming to this draft proposal. To the best of my knowledge, anything sent to the cabinet should be vetted by the law department. It is not the other way round. You can’t send something to the cabinet that is outside the domain of law. It looks like another round of time-wasting tactics.”
Lone’s remarks underscored a critical procedural flaw, suggesting that the CSC report should have been legally vetted before reaching the Cabinet. He warned that the referral to the Law Department is a ploy to prolong the crisis, leaving thousands of job aspirants and students in limbo. “This is not governance; this is avoidance,” Lone added in a statement, calling for immediate action to address the grievances of the youth.
A PDP young Turk, Iltija Mufti, daughter of Mehbooba Mufti, also weighed in, urging Open Merit students to take matters into their own hands. In a post on X, she wrote, “Some unsolicited advice to Open Merit students. Your rightful demand of proportionate reservation is a cause much larger than any political leader, party, or those aspiring to piggyback on this movement. As things stand, it’s clear the current government is only buying time. Take the bull by the horns. Organise meetings & stage peaceful protests. Rise & stand tall against injustice to demand what’s yours.” Mufti’s call for peaceful protests resonated with aspirants, many of whom are currently demonstrating outside the Chief Minister’s residence.
Questioning the rationale behind referring the CSC report to the Law department, PDP leader and Pulwama MLA Waheed Para accused the NC government of shattering the trust of students and job aspirants. In a detailed post on X, Para stated, “Six months ago, the J&K government promised to resolve the reservation issue through a subcommittee report. That deadline has passed, leaving thousands of students heartbroken and disillusioned, their trust in the system shattered and their futures put on hold.” Para criticized the NC for failing to exercise its authority to strike down the BJP-imposed reservation policy through a single administrative order, alleging that the ruling party, which campaigned on reversing the BJP’s policies, is now complicit in perpetuating them.
Para described the government’s inaction as a “deliberate denial of justice,” emphasizing the hardships faced by students in Jammu and Kashmir, including violence, lockdowns, and lost opportunities. “The youth are being pushed to the margins while the government dithers,” he said, questioning the NC’s credibility on larger issues like Article 370 and statehood restoration.
J&K Apni Party leader Altaf Bukhari also joined the chorus of criticism, urging the government to set a clear timeline for resolving the reservation issue. In a statement, Bukhari said, “With each passing day, merit continues to get undermined. Government must act swiftly and avoid any delaying tactics.” He emphasized the need for transparency and decisive action to restore public confidence in the administration.
Government’s Silence Deepens Mistrust
The UT government’s failure to issue an official statement following the Cabinet meeting has intensified public mistrust. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who met with protesting students in December 2024 and assured them of a resolution within the CSC’s six-month timeline, now faces accusations of backtracking. Even within the NC, there are signs of unease, with Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi previously criticizing the reservation policy as a “murder of merit.”
The Omar Abdullah government is under immense pressure to address the reservation crisis. The opposition’s relentless criticism, coupled with the youth’s growing disillusionment, has turned the issue into a major political liability for the NC-led administration. With no clear timeline for the Law Department’s review, the reservation controversy is set to remain a flashpoint, testing the government’s ability to balance legal, political, and social demands.
