Srinagar, Sept 17 : Srinagar Lok Sabha MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Thursday questioned the Jammu and Kashmir government over the delay in addressing the reservation issue, alleging that the administration was not serious about pursuing the matter.
Speaking to reporters, Ruhullah said the issue had been discussed for nearly two years but the government had failed to show urgency in taking it forward.
“The reservation issue, which we have been talking about for the past two years, shows that despite so much being done, the government is not serious about it,” he said.
Ruhullah questioned the government’s priorities, alleging that efforts were being made to pursue other matters in Delhi while the reservation file was not being followed with the same urgency.
What you saw is the result of the reservation policy,” he said, referring to the recent recruitment list.
He claimed that the existing reservation policy could adversely affect employment opportunities for candidates from Kashmir, saying its impact would become more visible in the coming years.
“In the next five to 10 years, you will see Kashmiri-speaking officials in government offices,” Ruhullah said.
He also questioned the continued recruitment process while the reservation issue remained unresolved.
Every day recruitments are coming out, every month and every year. On the basis of the reservation policy, Kashmiris are being pushed out of opportunities. Every day, their opportunities are ending and they are being denied equal rights,” he said.
Ruhullah asked the government to disclose the present status of the reservation file and urged it not to treat the matter as an issue of prestige.
“If the government makes this issue a matter of ego, then it will sacrifice their ego,” he said.
“Leave your ego. Tell us where the reservation file is. If it is somewhere else and you don’t have the courage to go there, then tell us where the file is, what is written in it, and hand over the file to us,” the MP said.
Ruhullah said he was ready to accompany students to pursue the matter if the government made the file and its contents available.
“I will go with the students myself. You can come behind me if you want,” he said.
“Call the students, hand over the file to them, tell us what is written in it, so that I can go and find the file myself,” he added.
