Srinagar, Oct 17: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) youth leader Waheed Para has strongly condemned the Jammu and Kashmir Government’s decision to reduce the Residents of Backward Area (RBA) quota, terming it a deliberate and politically motivated attempt to weaken Kashmiri representation and empowerment.
In a post shared on social media platform X, Para described the cabinet sub-committee’s move to cut down the RBA quota under the pretext of “rationalisation” as a calculated effort to disempower the people of Kashmir. He said the decision strikes at a quota that has historically safeguarded the rights and representation of Kashmiris in both administrative and educational sectors.
“The J&K Government’s cabinet sub-committee decision to slash the RBA quota under the guise of ‘rationalisation’ is a calculated attempt to disempower Kashmiris,” Para wrote, adding that the move undermines a vital safeguard ensuring fair representation for people from backward and remote areas of the Valley.
Taking aim at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Para alleged that by endorsing the decision, Abdullah was not defending equity but advancing the agenda of disempowerment.
The RBA quota has long been a cornerstone of Jammu and Kashmir’s reservation policy, benefitting people from remote and underdeveloped regions. Para warned that any dilution of this provision would further marginalise Kashmiris and erode their share in state opportunities.
