J&K Assembly discusses police verification, quota policy
After days of ruckus, the legislators were able to raise important issues in the J&K Assembly on Friday. Police verification process, new reservation policy and issue of political prisoners came up for discussion in the House.
Congress chief whip and Bandipora MLA Nizam-ud-Din Bhat brought up the issue of police verifications related to jobs and the needs to review the whole policy. He said if a person is linked to any adverse activity, his relatives are being denied police clearances.
“I want to bring a case from my constituency. Sabia Mushtaq, a young orphan, has been twice selected as a lecturer. Her juvenile brother was once named in a stone pelting FIR. Despite later being cleared by the court, Sabia was denied entry into the service,” Bhat said in his address.
Bhat said in another case, journalist Sajad Gul was booked by Police under Public Safety Act (PSA). Bhat said Sajad’s brother too was denied employment despite being selected.
In his address, Handwara MLA and People’s Conference president Sajad Lone called for reinforcement of the recently passed resolution, deeming it “weak” and criticising its lack of mention of Article 370, 35A, as well as the absence of an explicit condemnation of the unilateral decisions of August 5, 2019.
Lone also raised the issue of police verifications. He said earlier it was limited to passport issues only, but now it has been extended beyond that. “It is most inhuman and unfair for our youth,” he said, while demanding that it should be brought at par with states like Haryana, Gujarat and other parts of the country.
Langate MLA Sheikh Khursheed, who is brother of Lok Sabha MP Engineer Rashid, in his address raised several issues including political prisoners, police verifications and detention of journalists. “Efforts should be made to release the political prisoners,” he said.
Hazratbal MLA Salman Sagar raised the issue of new reservation policy. He said general category youth are facing injustice because of the new policy and it should be looked into. NC MLA Arjun Singh Raju too demanded that the government should revise the new reservation policy.
