By Sheikh Qayoom

Srinagar, Apr 4 (IANS): The J&K Apni Party (JKAP), here on Saturday, welcomed the Centre's decision to reserve government jobs exclusively for the domiciles of the Union Territory of the J&K.

The party had been embarrassed by the earlier notification that said only grade four jobs would be reserved for the J&K domiciles.

Syed Altaf Bukhari, JKAP founder, had called the earlier order ill-timed and against the people's wishes. He had said earlier the domicile order would come as a gift to the people of J&K.

It was in this backdrop that former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had said the order had evoked criticism even from those who were believed to be close to the Centre and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

On Friday, he contacted Union Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and issued a statement that he had been assured that the notification would be revisited in light of apprehensions expressed by him.

Luckily for the JKAP, a notification amending the earlier order was issued hours after Bukhari's meeting with Shah.

Welcoming the order, Bukhari said his party would continue its efforts to get the law revisited to remove the loopholes till it was satisfied the aspirations of the J&K people.

He also thanked people, especially the youth, who had united for the cause first time in the recent history. "By this exemplary gesture, the youth of both regions of J&K have ensured that the domiciles rights in jobs are an exclusive privilege that can't be shared with non-natives", a JKAP statement said.

He also urged all other political parties to rise above their considerations to jointly fight for the J&K people's rights.