“Congress, National Conference plan to end reservation in J&K,” says BJP’s Devendra Rana

Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], August 24 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Rana expressed serious concern on Saturday that the National Conference and Congress are planning to end reservation for Dalits, Gujjars and Other Backward Class (OBC) in Jammu and Kashmir after coming to power following the Assembly elections.

He stressed that the BJP would not allow it to happen, alluding to the possibility that the party would form the government in the Union Territory.

His comments came days after the two parties allied for the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1. The results will be announced on October 4.

“National Conference has released an election manifesto. A manifesto to consolidate anti-national forces,” he told reporters here at a press conference.

He added, “But, they have said that they will end the reservation in Jammu and Kashmir after coming to power. The reservation belongs to our Dalits, Gujjars, Paharis, and Other Backward Classes (OBC).”

Attacking the Congress over its pre-poll alliance with the NC, Rana said, “Congress has always sacrificed the interests of people for its greed of power in Jammu and Kashmir. Today, by aligning with the National Conference, they are going to end reservation and it is a matter of great concern.”

“The BJP will never allow it to happen (to end the reservation)”, he asserted

Ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, the Congress and the National Conference announced a pre-poll alliance and said that “they have reached a consensus on most of the seats.”

The Congress and the NC had fought the Lok Sabha elections in alliance with each other. The National Conference won two seats – Anantnag and Srinagar. The Congress could not win any seat.

The last date for filing the nomination papers is August 27.

24 Assembly seats will go to polls in the first phase on September 18.

The seats, that will go to polls in the first phase, are Pampore, Tral, ulwama, Rajpora, Zainapora, Shopian, D H Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, Dooru, Kokernag (ST), Anantnag West, Anantnag, Srigufwara-Bijbehara, Shangus-Anantnag East, Pahalgam, Inderwal, Kishtwar, Padder-Nagseni, Bhadarwah, Doda, Doda West, Ramban, and Banihal.

A total of 90 assembly constituencies will go to the polls in Jammu and Kashmir. The last assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir was held in 2014. The counting will take place on October 4.