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The Hindu
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Omar Abdullah accuses Mehbooba, Lone of 'political hypocrisy' over reservation issue
Facing outcry for dragging his feet on rationalising reservation quota in government jobs, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday (June 20, 2025) accused the Opposition parties, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and J&K People's Conference (JKPC) chairman Sajjad Lone of 'political hypocrisy'. Referring to Ms. Mufti and Mr. Lone, Mr. Abdullah said these leaders had the opportunity to raise the matter earlier but 'chose to remain silent for political convenience'. 'Why didn't Ms. Mufti speak about it when she was contesting elections from Anantnag and seeking support in Rajouri and Poonch? She needed votes and did not allow even her party members to speak about reservation. Mr. Lone was closely aligned with the government for five years. While we were being thrown out of government accommodations and our security was being downgraded, he comfortably stayed in a government house. Why didn't he speak about reservations then?' Mr. Abdullah asked. Mr. Abdullah's party had promised to rationalise the quota during the Assembly elections last year. This week, a Cabinet Sub Committee (CSC) mandated to suggest recommendations filed its report. However, the government move to send the report to the Law Department for legal vetting is being perceived by the Opposition as 'dilly dallying tactics'. Also Read | Growing voices against proposed 70% quota in Jammu and Kashmir 'If I had wanted a delay, I could have extended the deadline by another six months. No one could have forced me to act. Yet, we chose to move quickly. The Cabinet accepted the Sub-Committee's report and sent it to the Law Department for legal vetting,' Mr. Abdullah said. Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Parra termed the 'withholding of the subcommittee report a violation of democratic principles'. 'There is no room for secrecy in a democracy. Institutions must draw legitimacy from transparency, not concealment. The report directly impacts the future of the region's youth and should be made public without delay,' he said. Reacting to Mr. Abdullah's remarks, Ms. Mufti said, 'As Chief Minister, I ensured that 75% is reserved for open merit when some issue of NEET and other PG exams came up. I never sent the reservation to the Law Department. Now Omar sahib is pinning blame on others. Didn't he promise to resolve this issue?' Jammu and Kashmir's reservation quota was revised under the Central rule after new categories like Paharis, Paddari Tribe, Koli and Gadda Brahmin etc. were included in 2024. The open merit category was reduced significantly less than 40%. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister opposed any proposal to divert waters from Jammu and Kashmir to any other nearby State. 'I will never permit this. Our people in Jammu are already facing drought-like conditions. Why should we divert our water to Punjab? They already get water under the Indus Water Treaty. Did they ever share water with us when we needed it?' he said. On the restoration of Statehood, Mr. Abdullah said he pins hopes on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment. 'The promise hasn't been fulfilled yet,' he added.
India Today
8 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Row over J&K job quota report, Omar Abdullah calls out opposition's hypocrisy
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah defended the government's decision to send the Cabinet sub-committee (CSC) report on reservations in government jobs to the law department even as the opposition accused him of delaying tactics. After the report, a key poll promise of Abdullah, was tabled before the Cabinet, it was decided to send it to the law department."We constituted a cabinet sub-committee on the issue of reservations. It has been now sent to the law department. It is a part of the process. We can't bypass the process... My government has completed a few months. Ask me about my promises and performance after 5 years," Abdullah said as the opposition raised a hue and a the heart of the row lies a new reservation policy that was introduced by the J&K Lieutenant Governor before the Assembly election last year. The administration had quietly amended the J&K Reservation Act, 2005, to increase the quota for the reserved category in the state to 67% from 43%. This squeezed the reservation for the general category to 33%, prompting protests by students. To placate the students, Abdullah had announced a sub-committee to look into the issue and had said in December 2024 it would be resolved within six ACCUSES OMAR ABDULLAH OF DELAYPeoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed Para said the delay in addressing the concerns of the protesting students was a "deliberate denial of justice"."Six months ago, the J&K government promised to resolve the reservation issue through a sub-committee report. That deadline has passed, leaving thousands of students heartbroken and disillusioned, their trust in the system shattered, and their futures put on hold," Waheed Para letter by Open Merit Students of Jammu and Kashmir to the Chief Minister said the development had left the students shattered and questioned the silence of the government on the implementation timeline. The students sought immediate review of reservations in J&K."If legal vetting was required, why was it not done earlier? Why wait until the last day?" the students MINISTER RESPONDSHitting back at the PDP and its chief Mehbooba Mufti and People's Conference leader Sajjad Lone, Abdullah accused them of double standards on the issue."When Mehbooba Mufti needed votes, she strictly banned her party members from even talking about reservation... When contesting elections from Anantnag and needing votes from Rajouri and Poonch, why did she not talk about reservation then?" ANI quoted the Chief Minister as saying."Sajjad Lone was close to the government for five years when all this was happening. We were evicted from our government houses, and our security was reduced, while he was sitting in a government house. Why did he not talk about the reservation then?" Abdullah further National Conference leader said if he indeed had to waste time, he would have given six more months to the sub-committee to submit the InMust Watch
Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
J&K won't share water with Punjab: CM Omar Abdullah
Chief minister Omar Abdullah on Friday strongly opposed the flow of water from the three western rivers of the Indus system in Jammu and Kashmir to Punjab, reminding the neighbouring state of how it had 'maltreated' J&K for years together. On the 113-km canal proposed for redirecting surplus water from the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab, the three western rivers of the system, to Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, Abdullah said, 'I will never allow this. Let's use our water for ourselves first. There is a drought-like situation in Jammu. Why should I send water to Punjab? Punjab already had water (of three eastern rivers) under the Indus Water Treaty. Did they give us water when we needed it?' 'We were in dire straits then. They kept us waiting for years on the Ujh multipurpose and Shahpur Kandi barrage projects. After years, some work was done on the Shahpur Kandi barrage. This water (of the three western rivers) is for us. We will use it for ourselves and then think about others.' Asked how Jammu and Kashmir was going to use the western river waters, he said that the government would restart the Tulbul navigation project and divert the Chenab water from Akhnoor to Jammu city. After the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that left 26 people dead and scores injured, India has kept in abeyance the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 with Pakistan. Under the treaty, brokered by the World Bank, the water from the six rivers of the system were divided between the two countries. The eastern rivers of the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej were given to India and the western rivers of the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab were given to Pakistan, with India permitted limited, non-consumptive use of the latter. 'Oppn playing politics on quota' The chief minister minced no words in criticizing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the People's Conference for playing politics over the reservation rules for jobs. 'PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and PC president Sajjad Lone never raised the issue of reservation in recruitment when they were close to the government and had the opportunity. We were not even in the government then,' he said. Following protests against the reservation rules in December last year, the Omar Abdullah government constituted a cabinet sub committee (CSC), led by education minister Sakina Itoo. The cabinet on Wednesday discussed the CSC report before referring it to the law department for examination. The move has invited criticism by opposition parties. 'When Mehbooba Mufti needed votes, she strictly banned her party members from even talking about reservation. When contesting elections from Anantnag and needing votes from Rajouri and Poonch, why didn't she talk about reservation? Sajjad Lone was close to the government for five years when all this was happening. We were evicted from our government houses, and our security was reduced, while he was sitting in a government house. Why didn't he talk about reservation then?' the CM said. Abdullah said that his government had submitted the reservation report within six months, and this was the first time such progress had been made. 'If I had to waste time, I would have given six more months to the sub-committee. What would they have done then? Did they have any way to force me to complete this report in six months? The cabinet has accepted the sub-committee's report and sent it to the law department for its comments,' he said. The existing reservation policy, formulated post abrogation of Article 370, provides only 30% vacancies for general candidates, who account for 70% of the population in Jammu and Kashmir. Before 2019, J&K had 8% reservation for Scheduled Castes, 10% for Scheduled Tribes, 4% for other backward classes (OBCs), 4% for residents of areas along the line of actual control/international border, 10% for residents of backward area (RBA) and 10% for economically weaker sections (EWS). However, post Article 370, the BJP government introduced new reservation rules allocating 20% reservation to STs, 8% to SCs, 10% to RBA, 8% to OBCs, 4% to ALC/international border residents, 10% to EWS and 10% to children of defence personnel, sportspersons, people with disabilities, etc. 400 evacuated from Iran On the rising tension in West Asia, Abdullah questioned Israel's actions on Iran and expressed concern for the safety of stranded Indian students. 'What has Iran done that Israel has targeted it? It was said a few months back that Iran does not have any nuclear programme, so why is it now being targeted? Our students are also stranded there, 400 have been taken to safe places, while 1,600 is the total number of people stranded from J&K,' Abdullah said. Asked whether the National Conference would move the Supreme Court for the restoration of statehood, Abdullah said, 'Statehood, we are waiting for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promise on statehood.' Strengthening public outreach The chief minister inaugurated a Rabitta office in Jammu, aimed at strengthening public outreach and grievance redressal. According to Abdullah, the move followed the successful functioning of the party's Kashmir Rabitta office. 'We have opened the Rabitta office in Jammu as our Kashmir Rabitta office is doing very well. Officers will be here. Online and offline, people can give their representation. We will try to get the work done in less time,' he added.
Free Malaysia Today
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
PDP-SUPP row continues, this time over Sibu councillor's post
Sean Wong, the grandson of PDP senior vice-president Wong Soon Koh, was appointed a Sibu municipal councillor in April. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : The row between two Gabungan Parti Sarawak allies has continued with the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) defending the appointment of senior vice-president Wong Soon Koh's grandson as a local councillor in Sibu. Bawang Assan PDP chief Wong Hua said it was the party's right to nominate Sean Wong as a Sibu municipal councillor, fending off criticism from a Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) leader. Wong Hua said SUPP should mind its own business instead of concerning itself with the affairs of other parties, the Borneo Post reported. 'If you are questioning why Sean was recommended by our party, then all I can say is thank you very much for your concern. When SUPP recommended its councillors, PDP never commented on the appointments,' he said. He was responding to Dudong SUPP Youth chief Yiing Sy Huat, who is also a Sibu councillor, who questioned Sean's appointment to the post. Sean is the grandson of Bawang Assan assemblyman Soon Koh, the former state finance minister II who has had an ongoing conflict with SUPP since he was sacked from the party in 2014. Not long ago, Soon Koh was the Parti Sarawak Bersatu president as well as the opposition leader. However, the party was dissolved when he and other members joined PDP en bloc. Sean was appointed a Sibu municipal councillor in April. Wong Hua urged Yiing to focus on his job as a councillor instead of politicking, saying their energy should be spent on serving the public and developing the local community instead of meaningless arguments and personal attacks.
Hindustan Times
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Quota report sent to law dept: Oppn accuses J&K govt of delaying tactics
Opposition leaders came down heavily on Jammu and Kashmir government and termed its decision of sending the reservation report to law department, calling it as delaying tactics to undermine merit. After the cabinet meeting that was chaired by J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday evening the reservation report was sent to law department. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed Para on Thursday came down heavily on Jammu and Kashmir government's handling of reservation issue and said that the government cannot continue to hide behind excuses. He said that there was no resolution despite passage of six months leaving the students heartbroken and their trust in the system shattered. 'Six months ago, the J&K government promised to resolve the reservation issue through a subcommittee report. That deadline has passed, leaving thousands of students heartbroken and disillusioned, their trust in the system shattered and their futures put on hold,' Para said in post on X. On June 10, health minister Sakina Ittoo had said that the report of 3-membered sub committee on quota has been completed and would be submitted before the cabinet for a decision. However after a meeting of chief minister Omar Abdullah and his cabinet colleagues on Wednesday, the government made no mention of what transpired about the committee report. Para said that this is a deliberate denial of justice. 'These students have already endured violence, lockdowns, and lost opportunities. Now, as they seek fair representation and rationalised reservation, the government is pushing them further to the margins,' he said. The PDP MLA from Pulwama said that National Conference government has the power to strike down the BJP-imposed policy with a single administrative order. 'But the party that promised to reverse BJP's damage is now complicit in continuing it. If this is their response to a pressing youth issue well within their control to solve, then what should we expect on Article 370, statehood, or the Wakf Amendment Bill, which requires them to speak truth to power?,' Para said. The new reservation policy was introduced by lieutenant governor-led administration, before the assembly elections early last year, had squeezed the general category to 40%, which form the majority of the population, and increased reservation for reserved categories to 60%. After the elections, there were widespread demands for reversing the policy in recruitment and admissions prompting the Omar Abdullah-led government to form a three member cabinet sub-committee on December 10. Para said that erasing merit in Kashmir is not just a political issue but also a national security concern, given that Jammu and Kashmir is a border state where the youth are vulnerable to militancy, radicalism, and cross-border influences. 'If the Kashmiri youth are not offered hope, it will only empower subversive elements, further destabilising a generation and future. The government's inaction risks pushing these young people into a corner, forcing them to choose between studying and preparing to face the world or fighting against a system that has failed them,' he said. In April, J&K government had defended the new reservation policy in the high court facing backlash from the students and opposition. Para said that the government must act now. 'It cannot continue to hide behind excuses while the students' futures hang in the balance. Rationalisation of reservation and proportional representation represent the only fair path forward, and it must be implemented without further delay,' he said. 'Those claiming committee is helping students are either lying or complicit,' he said. Peoples Conference chairman Sajjad Lone said government has no idea about reservation. 'I have all along maintained that the government is clueless on reservations and has no intentions of doing anything. Now coming to this draft proposal. To the best of my knowledge anything sent to cabinet should be vetted by the law department. It is not the other way round. You can't send something to cabinet which is outside the domain of law. It looks like another round of time wasting tactics,' he wrote on X. Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari asked government to set a timeframe to resolve this issue. 'Set a clear timeline to resolve the reservation issue. With each passing day, merit continues to get undermined. Government must act swiftly and avoid any delaying tactics,' Bukhari wrote on X. Awami Ithead Party chief spokesman Inam ul Nabi said that this is not governance—it's an elaborate circus of deceit, delay and diversion. 'The Omar Abdullah government has once again proved that its words are hollow and its promises mere gimmicks. After over six months of public build-up, backdoor committee sittings and false assurances, the so-called CSC report has not even reached the Cabinet table in any serious form. What more proof do we need of their sheer indifference towards justice for open merit candidates,' he said adding that the Cabinet's latest move to 'rework' the report a 'well-scripted betrayal'.
