SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Tuesday urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene and facilitate permission for organizing a peaceful, academic, and non-partisan public debate on the Reservation Policy in Jammu & Kashmir.
In a statement, National Convenor of the Association Nasir Khuehami said that the Association had approached the administration twice; first for permission to hold a Youth Conclave on the Reservation Policy on 24th September, and later for a Public Debate proposed on 27th October at Tagore Hall, Srinagar. Despite submitting both applications well in advance and completing all formalities, permission was not granted on either occasion. Association members were made to move from one office to another; from the Civil to Police Administration; yet the process yielded no outcome. No permission has been granted for either of the scheduled programs, and no reasons or explanations have been provided. We tried to reach out; however, no response was received, he said.
The Association explained that the proposed program was an academic and policy-centric initiative intended to bring together diverse voices; Members of Parliament, legislators, representatives from both the Government and Opposition (including the Leader of Opposition and party presidents), Ex Chief Ministers, student representatives, civil society, academics, and members of trade and industry bodies to deliberate on the evolving framework of reservation in Jammu and Kashmir. The event was carefully structured to ensure inclusivity, neutrality, and adherence to all administrative and security guidelines, with participation limited to 200 individuals.