In a strong statement issued on Friday, October 17, 2025, PDP MLA Waheed Para criticized the Jammu and Kashmir government’s choice to “drastically reduce” the Residents of Backward Areas (RBA) quota, branding it a deliberate move to strip Kashmiris of their power and influence.
The Pulwama legislator directly accused Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of spearheading a “disempowerment agenda.” Para emphasized that the RBA quota plays a crucial role in safeguarding the representation of the Kashmiri people within the region.
“The decision by the J&K government’s cabinet sub-committee to cut the RBA quota, presented under the guise of ‘rationalization,’ is unequivocally a calculated attempt to disempower Kashmiris,” Para stated publicly. He added that by supporting this measure, Omar Abdullah is not championing fairness but rather actively pushing forward a hidden agenda of disempowerment.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had confirmed on Thursday, October 16, that the Cabinet approved the sub-committee’s report on reservation policies and that it would be sent to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for final endorsement. However, the specific details of the report’s recommendations remain undisclosed.
The Cabinet sub-committee, responsible for reviewing complaints from various groups regarding the Union Territory’s existing reservation policy, was originally established on December 10 of the previous year.