NC legislator gets emotional in Assembly while presenting private member’s bill on reservation
02/04/2026
Jammu, Apr 1: A National Conference legislator turned emotional in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly while urging the introduction of his private member's bill on reservation, even as the governm-ent opposed the proposal with Health Minister Sakeena Itoo assuring justice to all sections of society.
The private member's bill moved by Syed Bashir Ahmad Veeri, seeking amendments to the J&K Reservation Act to ensure justice for general category candidates, was defeated after a vote in the Assembly.
The bill was among over a dozen private members' bills taken up out of 64 listed for the day, with the House holding a second sitting to accommodate the legislative business. Reservations have become a key issue in J&K after the Centre expanded quotas and added new communities, pushing the total to around 70 per cent.
In December 2024, the J&K government constituted the cabinet sub-committee to look into grievances raised by various sections of aspirants against the existing reservation policy. The sub-committee headed by Itoo submitted its report in October last year which after clearance from the cabinet was sent to the lieutenant governor.
"Through this House, I want to assure the people of J&K that whatever report has been submitted and approved by the Cabinet has been done keeping in mind the welfare of the people. It reflects our efforts and the commitments we made in our manifesto, and we have tried to fulfil them.
We have made every effort to ensure justice to every section," the minister said. Itoo made the remark after Veeri broke down, citing injustice with the general category youth and pleaded for introduction of the bill to ensure fair process that adheres to at least 50 per cent reservation cap set by the Supreme Court.
"J&K is perhaps the only place in the country where reservation has risen to 65-70 per cent despite a large general category population. Students are looking to us with hope, and this issue makes me deeply emotional," he said. His party colleague Nazir Ahmad Gurezi walked up to him and was seen consoling him.
Urging the member to withdraw his bill, Itoo said the government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, had completed its work within the stipulated six months, and the file is now pending with the LG office.
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