Srinagar, Sep 19: Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari on Saturday said reservation in Jammu and Kashmir should be based on population, arguing that the existing distribution amounts to injustice.
“My stand in this is very clear. My party’s stand is very clear. Jiski jitni population hai usko utni reservation milni chahiye,” Bukhari said while speaking about the reservation issue ahead of the autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
“There should be no injustice. There is injustice. There is absolutely injustice. How can it be that 70% of the population is given 30% of the jobs?” he said.
Bukhari said he did not want to comment on who was responsible for the situation but maintained that the present arrangement was detrimental to the region.
“Now, whose responsibility it is and whose it is not, I do not know,” he said. “What I know is that if you ask me as a resident of Srinagar, I feel this is totally against Srinagar. If you ask me as a resident of Kashmir, I will say this is against Kashmir. If you ask me as a resident of Jammu and Kashmir, I will say this is against Jammu and Kashmir.”
On the upcoming Assembly session, Bukhari said people expected legislators to raise issues that directly affected their lives.
“People always have expectations that some good things in their favour will be discussed in the Assembly, which will directly benefit the people,” he said.
Describing the short session as an important political occasion, Bukhari said, “I wish them all the best to the legislators who are meeting tomorrow in this Valley for a short span of time, but nevertheless, it is an important milestone in the political activity.”
Bukhari also spoke about an exhibition featuring young exhibitors from Jammu, Srinagar, Delhi and Punjab, saying it conveyed messages of national integration while providing a platform for local talent.
“One is a message of national integration. The second is that we are showcasing Kashmir,” he said.
He added that the initiative was encouraging young people and giving them ideas about opportunities available to them.
“It provides encouragement to our young boys and girls. They get encouragement and ideas about how to do it,” Bukhari said.
