WHAT ARE YOU HIDING? Students Trash ‘Cosmetic’ Fix
Srinagar — Tensions regarding reservation policies in Jammu and Kashmir have resurfaced, with the Open Merit Students Association (OMSA) issuing a strong warning against what they term “token” adjustments to the current quota system.
The student body has categorically rejected any superficial reductions in reservation percentages, demanding that the government make the reservation sub-committee’s report public before it receives any official seal of approval.
Demands for Transparency
In a joint statement issued by OMSA leaders —including Sahil Parray, Dr. Mohammad Momin Khan, Tafazul Bilal, and Subina Mehraj —the association criticized the current handling of the sub-committee’s findings. They argued that forwarding the report directly to the Lieutenant Governor without first placing it in the public domain suggests an attempt to evade scrutiny.
“If the government is confident in the fairness of its recommendations, there should be no hesitation in publishing the document immediately,” the statement read. The leaders emphasized that transparency is a prerequisite for trust and that hiding the report amounts to evasion.
Rejection of “Token” Cuts
The association has drawn a red line regarding potential reforms, stating that minor cuts to one or two categories will not suffice. They warned that any “incomplete reforms” or “cosmetic” changes intended to placate the public without addressing the core structural issues would be met with strong opposition.
Call for Divisional-Wise Reservation
Beyond their critique of the process, OMSA put forward a specific structural alternative: divisional-wise reservation. The group argued that this approach represents the most balanced method for addressing regional imbalances across the Union Territory. They questioned the authorities on why this specific option appears to have been sidelined, demanding clarity on the government’s rationale.
