People's Conference president Sajad Lone has raised serious concerns about the reservation system in Jammu and Kashmir, claiming it disproportionately favors the Jammu region, thereby marginalizing the Kashmiri-speaking population. On March 15, 2025, he pointed out what he described as "stark regional imbalances" within the certification process for various categories of societal groups.
According to data provided by Lone, since April 1, 2023, the issuance of reservation certificates has been overwhelmingly skewed, with the Jammu region securing 100% of the 67,112 Scheduled Caste (SC) certificates issued during the past two years. This alarming statistic highlights the absence of any SC certificates granted to the Kashmir region, raising questions about equal opportunity and representation.
Further compounding the issue, Lone revealed stark differences within the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, where Jammu issued 459,493 certificates, amounting to 85.3% of the total, against only 79,813 (14.7%) issued to Kashmir. Similarly, the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category exhibited another disparity: 27,430 certificates were awarded to Jammu compared to just 2,273 for Kashmir, which is roughly 8% of the total. Lone urged for transparency, stating, "The whole reservation concept is rigged against the Kashmiri-speaking population and against ST or EWS living in Kashmir."
On top of these disparities, data presented by Lone indicated significant inequities among other categories as well. For those living along the Actual Line of Control (ALC), Jammu received 268 certificates, whereas Kashmir received only 16, and for the International Border category, all 551 certificates were issued to Jammu residents, as Kashmir lacks areas under the International Border. Also, 1,379 Residents of Backward Area (RBA) certificates were distributed to Jammu residents against 1,229 for Kashmir, making the ratio 53:47. Though the difference seems minimal, when viewed through the lens of population, Kashmir, which has approximately 7% more people, is still trailing behind.
Lone also expressed his concerns about the recent amendment to the reservation policies, stating, "Regionally, the loss due to reservations is much higher than anticipated." This critique gains weight considering the Jammu and Kashmir government's efforts to amend reservation policies which have increased the total reservation percentage to 70%. Such shifts raise urgent questions about equity among the diverse communities comprising the region.
Critics argue these changes have tipped the reservation balance against the majority population of Jammu and Kashmir. To address these widening discrepancies, the previous government led by Omar Abdullah formed a Cabinet sub-committee to explore grievance resolutions related to reservations. Despite these efforts, doubts remain about the effectiveness of these measures. Lone noted the flaws within the committee set up on December 10, 2024, to address these grievances, pointing out its lack of specific timelines for the submission of the report, signaling possible delays and inefficacies.
While the RBA figures appeared more evenly divided, Lone warned against complacency. He noted, "While RBA figures appear more balanced, when adjusted for Kashmir’s approximately 7% larger population, the region still lags behind Jammu proportionally." Lone’s combative stance reflects the burgeoning discontent among constituents who believe the current administration’s actions have sidelined significant portions of the population.
These revelations serve as clarion calls for action, urging authorities to reassess the reservation policies to rectify these inequities. Lone’s assertions provide insight not only on numbers but on broader socio-political dynamics at play within this historically contentious region. The growing call for attention and reform indicates the need for a more egalitarian approach to resource distribution and societal empowerment.