Srinagar, Nov 12 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Thursday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to announce a general amnesty for people booked or incarcerated in connection with the turmoil of the 1990s, while also demanding a comprehensive review of the existing reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir.
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‎Bukhari said a significant section of society continues to face legal and administrative difficulties due to cases and FIRs registered during the 1990s, with many people struggling to obtain police verification for government employment and passports.
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‎He said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir had changed considerably over the years, with several individuals previously associated with the events of the 1990s having joined mainstream politics. Their children and grandchildren, he added, were also pursuing mainstream political paths.
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‎Appealing to the Centre to adopt a humanitarian approach, Bukhari said a general amnesty would help address the long-standing grievances of those who continue to face difficulties because of their past.
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‎Expressing serious concern over police verification procedures, he said qualified young people should not be denied employment opportunities merely because their relatives were allegedly involved in militancy-related activities decades ago.
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‎"It is no justice to punish a son for the actions of his father, a nephew for the actions of his uncle, or a young person for the past of his grandfather," Bukhari said.
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‎He warned that continuing such restrictions could deprive an entire generation of Kashmiri youth of employment and other opportunities, despite having no involvement in the activities attributed to their family members.
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‎"The people of Jammu and Kashmir have chosen the path of peace. It is time that their genuine concerns are addressed and the younger generation is given an opportunity to move forward," he said.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
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‎Turning to the reservation policy, the Apni Party president demanded its comprehensive review, saying the existing framework had created serious concerns over fairness and equal opportunities in government employment.
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‎He claimed that nearly 70 per cent of the population was competing for only around 30 per cent of government jobs under the open-merit category, alleging that the arrangement had significantly reduced employment prospects for young people, particularly in the Kashmir Valley.
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‎Bukhari said the people of Kashmir had already endured immense hardships since the 1990s and that the present reservation framework was further contributing to frustration among educated unemployed youth.
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‎Criticising the elected government over the issue, he said that despite receiving a strong electoral mandate, it had failed to deliver on repeated assurances to rationalise the reservation policy.
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‎He said that while the restoration of Article 370 remained a major political commitment of the National Conference, addressing concerns surrounding the reservation policy had also become an important expectation among the people.
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‎Bukhari urged the government to move beyond assurances and take concrete steps to ensure a fair and balanced reservation framework that protects the interests of all sections of society.
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‎He said both the general amnesty and reservation policy issues required urgent attention to ensure that the younger generation was not deprived of opportunities because of past circumstances or existing administrative policies.
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‎The Apni Party president called upon the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government to address these concerns in the interest of justice, equal opportunities and a dignified future for the youth. (KNS)
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