Srinagar: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) youth leader Waheed Para has sharply criticized the Jammu and Kashmir Government’s decision to reduce the Backward Area (RBA) quota, calling it a deliberate move to weaken Kashmiri representation and empowerment.
In a post on social media platform X, Para accused the government of using the pretext of “rationalization” to justify what he termed as a calculated attempt to disempower the people of Kashmir.
“The J&K Government’s cabinet sub-committee decision to slash the RBA quota under the guise of ‘rationalization’ is a calculated attempt to disempower Kashmiris,” Para wrote.
He said that the quota, which has long served as a protective measure ensuring fair representation of people from backward and remote areas in administrative and educational institutions, was being undermined through this policy change.
Para argued that the move strikes at the core of social justice and inclusivity that the RBA reservation was designed to uphold. “By targeting this safeguard, the government is eroding the mechanisms that gave people from disadvantaged regions a voice and an opportunity to rise,” he added.
The PDP leader urged the administration to reconsider the decision, emphasizing that equitable representation and empowerment must remain at the center of governance in Jammu and Kashmir.
As of now, the government has not issued a formal clarification on the extent of the reduction or the rationale behind the decision, which has drawn criticism from several political quarters.
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