Kashmiri-speaking population being pushed to wall: Sajad Lone

Jammu: Stating that Kashmiris are being pushed to the wall, Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone on Thursday said that “unfair” reservation policy is a post-dated cheque for disaster.
Speaking in the Assembly, Lone, who represents the Handwara segment, said that ethnic Kashmiri-speaking population is being pushed to the wall.
“We have seen very few Kashmiris qualify competitive examinations. It is not that they are incompetent but they are being crowded out of the competitive space by virtue of system reservations,” he said.
Citing statistics, Lone said the representation of Kashmiris in KAS selections has sharply declined over recent years due to reservations.
“In 2023, only 14 candidates i.e., 19 % of successful candidates were from Kashmir while as it was 25 % in 2022 and 17 % in 2021,” he said.
He said efforts are being made to establish social supremacy over Kashmiris through disempowerment.
“I must ask you to put a hand on your heart and tell us — if you return here in 20 years, how many KAS officers will be Kashmiri-speaking in this secretariat?” Lone asked.
He said the current reservation policy would have serious ramifications. “This is a post-dated cheque for disaster. We have just come out of the conflict after 30 years. That script was written by our enemies and now this script is being written by us,” he said, adding that tribals of Kashmiris are also not able to compete for reservations due to the level of their backwardness.
He said the current government should correct the unfair reservation policy