By: Sheikh Mohammad Isa
Srinagar, September 19: Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari has called for reservation in Jammu and Kashmir to be based on population, saying the existing distribution is unfair.
Speaking about the reservation issue ahead of the autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Bukhari said his position and that of his party were clear.
“Jiski jitni population hai usko utni reservation milni chahiye,” he said, arguing that reservation should reflect the population share of different groups. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Bukhari also questioned the current distribution of government jobs and said there was a need to address what he described as an imbalance in the existing system.
“There should be no injustice. There is injustice. There is absolutely injustice. How can it be that 70% of the population is given 30% of the jobs?” he said.
He said he did not want to comment on who was responsible for the present situation but maintained that the existing arrangement was a concern for people across Jammu and Kashmir.
“As a resident of Srinagar, I feel this is totally against Srinagar. If you ask me as a resident of Kashmir, I will say this is against Kashmir. If you ask me as a resident of Jammu and Kashmir, I will say this is against Jammu and Kashmir,” Bukhari said.
Bukhari on upcoming Assembly session
Commenting on the upcoming Assembly session, Bukhari said people expected legislators to raise issues that directly affected their daily lives.
He said people hoped that matters benefiting the public would be discussed in the Assembly.
Describing the short session as an important occasion, Bukhari wished the legislators well and said the session marked an important stage in Jammu and Kashmir’s political activity.
The J&K General Administration Department has listed the sixth session of the Legislative Assembly among its September 2026 government orders.
Reservation policy remains under discussion
The reservation issue remains under consideration in Jammu and Kashmir. The government said earlier in 2026 that the Cabinet Sub-Committee examining and rationalising the reservation policy had submitted its report, but it was still awaiting approval from the competent authority. The existing reservation framework therefore continued to remain in force.
Under the J&K Reservation Act, reservation in direct recruitment covers several categories, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and socially and educationally backward classes, with the applicable percentages determined under the law and rules.
Bukhari speaks about youth exhibition
Bukhari also spoke about an exhibition featuring young exhibitors from Jammu, Srinagar, Delhi and Punjab.
He said the event conveyed a message of national integration while also providing a platform to showcase Kashmir and local talent.
According to Bukhari, such initiatives encourage young people by exposing them to new ideas and opportunities.
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