‘I can’t face my father; I eat when he goes to bed, I have no job’
A group of unemployed youth from various parts of Jammu and Kashmir expressed “disappointment” with the performance of the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government that won a decisive mandate in the 2024 Legislative Assembly elections.
Hosting a debate programme on X space late Monday evening, the unemployed youngsters from open merit category said they had overwhelmingly voted for the National Conference, hoping that the party would work in accordance with the promises made in the 2024 manifesto.
“It is high time we shift focus from bigger politics to unending personal suffering and mental stress of Kashmir’s qualified and unemployed youths,” said Sahil Parray, who has been campaigning for rationalisation in the government’s reservation policy that many believe is “killing merit”.
Parray narrated his personal ordeal and challenge at home to avoid “daily embarrassment” because of being highly qualified and yet unemployed.
“I can’t face my father. I wait for him to be done with his dinner. I come downstairs by 10 pm. I am depressed. So are the other youths who have degrees but no employment opportunities,” he added.
In its manifesto, among many promises and guarantees, the JKNC government had promised to provide one lakh jobs in a period of five years and also rationalise the controversial reservation policy.
Apart from Sahil Parray, several other youngsters offered similar criticism of the JKNC government.
“Honestly speaking, I don’t place my trust in Omar Abdullah as Chief Minister to represent us. The manner in which he has taken U-Turns and reneged on all promises made since last two years gives me no confidence in Omar’s leadership,” said Zahida Mattu, a Kashmiri who is currently based in the United States.
The online programme was organised to debate Member Parliament Aga Ruhullah Mehdi’s three suggestions made to his party, the National Conference.
One of the suggestions was that Omar Abdullah steps down from the post of Chief Minister and takes matters of Kashmir to Delhi as a parliamentarian. In turn, Mehdi would resign as a parliamentarian and work with the party to indulge in mobilisation and lobbying.
The second suggestion put forth by Mehdi was that the JKNC identifies the deadwood and replaces them with those who can deliver. Also, someone else from the party should be made the Chief Minister to look after day-to-day affairs in a hybrid model of governance.
Many participants in the X space programme agreed.
“For God’s sake, oust the Chief Minister [Omar Abdullah] and the party president [Farooq Abdullah]. This is a possibility in a democratic setup. The National Conference is not a personal asset of the Abdullah’s,” said a participant, adding “the Abdullahs love their own voice and are happy hearing the voices that surround them.”
Other participants echoed similar sentiments, saying that there was an urgent need to revive and reclaim the older version of the National Conference.
They said that the educated youth of Kashmir have nowhere to go.
“They are depressed and have no employment opportunity,” argued another participant.
Nayeema Mehjoor, former chairperson of the erstwhile State Women’s Commission during the PDP-BJP coalition government, said people need to give time to the National Conference government as they have waited for the last 70-80 years without achieving anything.
“The rift between the National Conference and Aga Mehdi is an internal party matter. We should wait for the JKNC’s reaction over Mehdi’s three suggestions,” the former broadcaster Mehjoor said.
Several participants disagreed with the former PDP spokesperson Mehjoor’s assertion, saying she was trying to shield the National Conference.
“The JKNC doesn’t have ears on the ground. It has lost touch with the people. And, let’s discourage this narrative that they need time,” Zahida responded.
Imtiyaz Chashti, social activist, said why the politicians of J&K were stuck with Articles 370 and 35A and why aren’t they talking about greater autonomy and pre-1953 status of the region.
“Why are our politicians only talking about 2019 and not 2000 when the NC passed the Autonomy Resolution?,” Chashti asked.
Other participants were very critical of the National Conference and its leadership. Some suggested that it was time to revive the National Conference by taking control of the original party.
“Clearly, the NC has lost its plot. Let me remind all of you that the NC is not a private family enterprise. We must take charge and oust Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah and the deadwood,” said a participant.
Other participants argued that the mushrooming of cafés and opening of markets in Kashmir was “just a facade”.
“Listen to the kids who are affected. Listen to the problems of the unemployed youth who feel disappointed and dejected,” said an activist.
A young participant said he feels disappointed and disheartened for “wasting my vote” during the 2024 Legislative Assembly elections.
Mujeeb, another youth activist, said that Kashmir’s young population is a hardworking and articulate generation.
“It is about time we take control of our politics and stop hero worshipping individuals. Should we waste our entire life by serving the Abdullah family as subjects?”, he asked.
Parray added: “I can’t face my father. I eat when he goes to bed. I have no job.”
