Disillusionment among students grows as Govt delays Reservation decision: MLA Waheed Para

Ziraat Times News Desk 

Srinagar: PDP youth leader and former MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para has criticized the Jammu & Kashmir administration for what he called ‘failure to act on the long-pending issue of reservation rationalisation’, calling it a “deliberate denial of justice” to thousands of students who continue to await a clear and fair policy.

In a strongly worded statement released on Wednesday, Para said that the J&K government had, six months ago, promised to address the reservation issue through a Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) report. However, that deadline has long passed without any meaningful outcome, leaving students “heartbroken and disillusioned, their trust in the system shattered and their futures put on hold.”

“This delay is not just bureaucratic inaction; it is a deliberate act of denial,” Para asserted.

“These students have already endured the trauma of conflict, violence, and extended lockdowns. They deserve better. Instead of extending a hand of fairness, the government continues to push them to the margins.”

The Cabinet had on Tuesday referred the CSC report to the Law Department for legal vetting, without setting a timeline for its return—sparking concerns among open merit students who were expecting the report to be made public and acted upon with urgency.

Para accused the National Conference-led administration of failing to deliver on its promise to reverse policies implemented by the previous BJP regime. “The NC government has the power to strike down the BJP-imposed reservation policy with a single administrative order,” he said. “Yet the party that promised to undo the damage is now complicit in prolonging it.”

He further warned that ignoring the aspirations of Kashmiri youth was not merely a political misstep, but a “national security concern.”

“Erasing merit in a border state like Jammu and Kashmir has dangerous implications. When young people are not given hope, they become vulnerable to militancy, radicalism, and external influences,” Para cautioned. “The government’s failure to act decisively risks pushing an entire generation into deeper alienation.”

He urged the government to stop “hiding behind excuses” and take immediate steps to rationalize the reservation policy through proportional representation. “This is not a matter of political negotiation. It’s a moral and administrative responsibility. The youth of J&K deserve fairness, not further delay.”

Para concluded his statement by expressing solidarity with the student community. “We stand with our students—without affiliations or unions. Their struggle is real, their pain is ours. We will not back down until justice is delivered.”

The reservation issue has become a flashpoint in recent months, with open merit students demanding clearer policies, equitable representation, and an end to what they see as systemic marginalization. With no fixed timeline from the Law Department and rising discontent, the pressure is now mounting on the administration to act swiftly.