Sakina Itoo Slams Sajad Lone Over Reservation Row, Labels His Remarks as ‘Frustrated, Misleading’

Srinagar: Minister Sakina Itoo hit back at Peoples Conference chief Sajad Gani Lone for his remarks on the government’s legal stand in an ongoing court case. Lone had accused the administration of seeking dismissal of a petition challenging the reservation policy without acknowledging the formation of a Cabinet Sub-Committee meant to review the same.
Terming the government’s affidavit before the High Court as a “legal mystery,” he alleged that it failed to mention the committee and questioned the seriousness of the administration. “This is a legal mystery. Seems the government is not taking its own committee seriously enough to merit a mention in its legal affidavit,” Lone wrote on X. Responding sharply, Minister Sakina Itoo accused Lone of twisting facts for political gains. She said that the affidavit does not reflect the final position of the government and that a fresh affidavit may be filed if needed. “The current reservation policy is irrational and is under review by a Cabinet Sub-Committee. Sajad Lone should wait for the report instead of misleading people,” she said. The affidavit filed by the government describes the petition as “an abuse of judicial process” and terms the plea “motivated by ill will,” asserting that no change in reservation percentage for Scheduled Tribes has occurred. Itoo emphasized that the government, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, is committed to fairness and rationality in reservation. Dismissing Lone’s criticism as “baseless,” she said, “He is frustrated and politicizing a sensitive issue. The affidavit has been misrepresented, and the government’s intent is being wrongly portrayed.”