J&K CM Omar Abdullah warns of Gen Z-style protest over pending reservation report, business rules

Srinagar, August 14: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday cautioned the Centre against delays in implementing key administrative decisions, warning that continued inaction could trigger a "Gen Z-style" protest in the Union Territory.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Abdullah expressed disappointment over the response from the Centre and the Lieutenant Governor's office regarding the Cabinet's reservation report and the Transaction of Business Rules. He said the elected government had responded to queries raised by the L-G office but was yet to receive a final decision.

"On the reservation report of the J&K Cabinet, questions were raised by the L-G office. We sent our replies. Was it sent to Delhi? Tell us whether it was accepted or not. The situation is such that a Gen Z-like protest could take place and we will not be responsible for that," Mr. Abdullah said.

The reservation policy, revised during the Lieutenant Governor's rule, had reserved 60% of seats for reserved categories and 40% for the open category. After Mr. Abdullah was elected Chief Minister, he constituted a sub-committee to review the policy, and the committee's report was submitted to the L-G in 2025. The report has not been finalised yet, pending clarifications from the L-G office.

Mr. Abdullah also accused the Centre of delaying the Transaction of Business Rules, a mandatory framework under the J&K Reorganisation Act that defines the roles and domains of the Chief Minister, the Council of Ministers, and the L-G office. The rules have been pending since his party won 42 seats in the 2024 Assembly elections, and the L-G office and the CM office have not yet finalised them for smooth functioning of the elected government.

"There were queries and objections. We brought changes. We showed flexibility. We are waiting for it to be implemented. I am visiting Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah to raise a few issues, and will raise this one too," Mr. Abdullah said.

The Chief Minister further termed the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) "discriminatory" towards J&K. He said the treaty, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, gave India control over the eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—and allowed Pakistan full rights over the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. This arrangement, he argued, constrains J&K's ability to use its water resources fully.

"J&K has the first right to its rivers. The IWT constrained our ability to use them fully. That chapter must remain closed; we must be free to utilise our waters for drinking, irrigation, navigation and power," Mr. Abdullah added.

The statements come amid ongoing friction between the elected government and the L-G administration in J&K, with the Centre maintaining that the L-G has certain constitutional responsibilities in the Union Territory. Mr. Abdullah's visit to Delhi is expected to focus on these unresolved issues, which have hampered the functioning of the elected government since it assumed office.

The J&K Reorganisation Act, passed in 2019, requires the Transaction of Business Rules to be framed to allocate business between the government and the L-G. Critics argue that delays in finalising these rules have created ambiguity in decision-making, affecting governance in the region.

As of now, the Centre has not officially responded to Mr. Abdullah's remarks. The Union Home Ministry is likely to discuss these matters during his upcoming visit.