Srinagar, June 25 -- The party criticized it as deeply flawed and discriminatory, promising to rationalize the policy if voted to power.

This promise was not made in vague terms, it found clear and unambiguous mention in the party's manifesto.

The way JKNC leaders publicly spoke and wrote about the skewed nature of the policy created a strong impression among Kashmiri youth that if nothing else, Kashmir's grand old party was contesting elections primarily to undo the controversial changes to the reservation framework.

That promise, however, now appears to have been little more than an electoral gimmick aimed at securing youth support.

Nearly nine months since assuming power, the commitment to rationalize the reservation policy is yet ...