Srinagar, Sep 17, KNT: Srinagar Lok Sabha MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Thursday questioned the Jammu and Kashmir government over the prolonged delay in resolving the reservation issue, asking it to disclose the present status and contents of the file concerning rationalization of the reservation policy.

Speaking to reporters, Ruhullah said the issue had been under discussion for nearly two years and alleged that the government was not showing sufficient urgency in pursuing it. He asked the government to set aside what he described as an issue of “ego” and tell students and the public where the file currently stands.

Ruhullah as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust also linked the issue to recent recruitment processes, alleging that the existing reservation structure was reducing employment opportunities for candidates from Kashmir. He warned that its impact would become increasingly visible in government recruitment and said, according to his remarks, that the number of Kashmiri-speaking people in government offices could decline in the coming years if the issue remained unresolved. He further alleged that opportunities for Kashmiri youth were diminishing and called for equal opportunities for people across the Union Territory.

The MP questioned why recruitments were continuing while the reservation issue remained under consideration and urged the government to clarify what action had been taken on the file. “Leave your ego. Tell us where the reservation file is,” he said, adding that if the government was unable to pursue the matter, the file should be made available to those seeking clarity on the issue.

Ruhullah said he was prepared to accompany students in pursuing the matter and asked the government to disclose what had been proposed in the file. His latest remarks come after he had repeatedly questioned the administration over the status of the reservation proposal.

In April this year, Ruhullah had said the government had told him that the file had been sent to the Lieutenant Governor’s office and had questioned when it would be returned. The government had earlier stated that its proposal to rationalise the reservation policy had been forwarded to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for approval, while details of the proposal were not made public at the time.

The reservation controversy followed changes to Jammu and Kashmir’s quota framework, including the 10 per cent reservation granted to the Pahari community in 2024. The revised structure prompted objections from sections of general-category students and job aspirants, who have sought rationalisation of the overall reservation system.

The Omar Abdullah government had constituted a Cabinet sub-committee to examine grievances over the reservation policy after student protests. The Chief Minister subsequently said the committee had completed its work and that the proposal was to be forwarded to the Lieutenant Governor for approval.

Ruhullah again sought transparency on the file’s status and contents, saying the government should provide a clear account of where the process stands rather than allowing uncertainty to continue. [KNT]

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