PDP Leader Iltija Mufti Accuses National Conference of Undermining Meritocracy in Jammu and Kashmir
Srinagar, Nov 17: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the ruling National Conference (NC) in Jammu and Kashmir, accusing the party of undermining meritocracy and making “false promises” regarding the rationalization of reservations in the region. Her remarks came in the wake of an advertisement issued by the Government Medical College in Anantnag, which she claims highlights the NC’s failure to live up to its pre-election promises.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Iltija Mufti stated, “Meritocracy is being murdered in broad daylight by the party that pulled a fast one on J&K’s youth with false promises of rationalising reservation—promises that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Her criticism was sparked by an advertisement for paramedical course openings at the Government Medical College in Anantnag, where out of 17 available seats, only three are designated for open merit candidates, while the remainder is reserved for various categories, including Residents of Backward Areas (RBA), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Scheduled Tribes (STs). Iltija Mufti argued that this allocation demonstrates a failure to uphold merit-based selection, as promised by the NC during the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.
The NC had, in its election manifesto, pledged to review the region’s reservation policy and rectify what it termed as “imbalances” in the system. However, Mufti contended that this promise has yet to materialize in any meaningful way, suggesting that the NC’s rhetoric is merely an attempt to gain political leverage while continuing to favor reservation-based allocations over merit.
Taking a direct swipe at the NC, Mufti added, “Statehood is the only demand they are hankering after to enjoy uninterrupted power,” implying that the party’s focus on regaining statehood is a diversion from addressing critical governance issues, including the merit-based distribution of opportunities in education and employment.
The issue of reservations has long been a contentious one in Jammu and Kashmir, especially after the region’s special status under Article 370 was revoked by the central government in 2019. While some political parties, including the NC, have promised to address imbalances in the reservation system, others, like the PDP, have raised concerns about the impact of such policies on fairness and meritocracy.
Iltija Mufti, who is also the media advisor to her mother, Mehbooba Mufti, the president of the PDP and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, has frequently criticized the NC for what she perceives as its failure to deliver on key promises made to the people of the Union Territory. She has also voiced concerns about the broader political direction in Jammu and Kashmir under the current administration, which she argues has led to a weakening of democratic processes and governance standards.
Her remarks underline the growing political divide between the NC and the PDP, with both parties competing for the support of Jammu and Kashmir’s electorate on issues of governance, reservations, and statehood. As the region grapples with a changing political landscape, these debates over meritocracy and reservation policies are expected to be key points of contention in future elections.
