SRINAGAR, Dec 23: Senior National Conference leader and Member of Parliament from Srinagar, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, along with other poltical leaders of PDP and AIP including Iltija Mufti, Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, Sheikh Khursheed, and others, led a peaceful protest on Monday outside Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s residence in Srinagar. The leaders demanded a rationalization of the reservation policy implemented in Jammu and Kashmir post the abrogation of Article 370.
Aga Ruhullah, known for his vocal stance on social issues, began the protest march from Burn Hall School, joined by legislators and student representatives. The protest culminated outside the chief minister’s official residence in the Gupkar area.
Speaking at the protest site, Ruhullah said the protest aimed to highlight the adverse impact of the reservation policy, which has drastically reduced the open merit category to 30% while reserving 70% of seats for various communities.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leaders Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra and Iltija Mufti, along with other political representatives, also joined the protest. Speaking to reporters, Parra stressed the need for a time-bound revocation of the policy, stating that merit holders should not be made to suffer due to excessive reservations.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who voiced his support for the protest earlier in the day, expressed his willingness to join the gathering if permitted by the authorities.
The protesters, backed by student associations and several political parties, called for a balanced and inclusive reservation policy.
The existing policy, introduced by the Lieutenant Governor-led administration ahead of assembly elections earlier this year, has sparked widespread criticism for reducing opportunities for the general category, which constitutes a significant portion of the population.
During the protest, Ruhullah announced that a five-member delegation, comprising students and leaders, would meet with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to present their demands. “We have received communication from inside the CM’s house that a delegation will be allowed to discuss the issue,” Ruhullah said. “We will not leave until we hear from the students after their meeting with the chief minister.”
The protest has garnered support from various quarters, with many urging the government to reconsider the policy in the interest of fairness and equality. (KDC)
