Sajad Lone Launches Campaign Against Reservation Policy in J&K
Srinagar, Oct 25: People’s Conference chief and MLA from Handwara, Sajad Gani Lone, has announced that his party will soon begin a full-fledged campaign against the ongoing reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir, which he termed as “an assault on open merit.”
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Lone strongly criticised the J&K Government’s approach to reservations, claiming that the new policies are undermining opportunities for deserving candidates. “This government is out to kill merit. Open merit has been buried,” Lone said. “We are going to start a ground-level registration drive against this policy.”
Lone warned that the present system of reservation is pushing Kashmir towards a major disaster, and vowed to take the movement to the people. “We will go door to door. If hunger strikes or mass protests are required, we will not hesitate. Enough is enough,” he declared.
The Open Merit Students Association (OMSA), an organisation representing merit-based students in Jammu and Kashmir, has also raised concerns over what it calls the “unjust dilution of open competition.” OMSA has stated that meritocracy should be protected and that reservation policies should not “punish” students from unreserved categories who work hard but lose opportunities due to shrinking open merit seats.
Several youth groups have echoed this sentiment, demanding a transparent review of reservation rules to ensure fairness and equal opportunity.
Growing Political Reactions
Sajad Lone’s statement adds to the chorus of criticism already building within Kashmir’s political landscape. Multiple parties now view the reservation issue as a defining socio-political battle, with long-term implications for employment, education, and representation in the region.
Observers believe that Lone’s campaign, if it gains momentum, could become a larger people’s movement focused on restoring the idea of equal competition and challenging what many see as an “imbalanced reservation framework.”
