The application of 10% reservation for economically backward classes by Governor’s administration in Jammu & Kashmir is though a welcome step but the implementation could have been deferred till the restoration of popular rule in the state keeping in view the fact popular decisions are always better implemented by popular governments. Surprisingly the mainstream political parties particularly two largest regional parties National Conference (NC) and Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) choose to remain silent over the decision of the governor’s administration instead of raising questions over the timing of applying the legislation on reservation for economically backward classes in the state the way they raise questions over the other decisions of the governor’s administration. Knowing that a vast population is benefited by the ten per cent reservation of the economically backward class throughout the state the mainstream political parties in both Kashmir and Jammu choose to remain silent with the intents of keeping their vote banks intact ahead of the ensuing Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the state.
This time when the state is under presidential rule the mainstream political parties irrespective of their ideologies should have raised their voice for the deferment of ten per cent reservation for economically backward class as this was the issue over which they had no ideological difference on regional or religious lines.
Obviously the timing of assembly elections and implications of the reservation for the economically backward classes are the biggest political constraints that have prompted both the regional and national level mainstream political parties to remain silent over the issue. The mainstream political parties don’t dare to utter even a single word against governor’s administration for taking the decision which should have been left for the next popular government. The heads of two largest regional mainstream political parties National Conference and PDP and leaders of two largest national level political parties Congress and BJP should hang their heads in shame over their inability in taking such popular decisions in the previous when they were part of popular government in the state. This time when the state is under presidential rule the mainstream political parties irrespective of their ideologies should have raised their voice for the deferment of ten per cent reservation for economically backward class as this was the issue over which they had no ideological difference on regional or religious lines.
