Ruling, Opposition leaders join protesters outside CM Omar Abdullah’s residence over J&K reservation policy

Mainstream leaders protest in Srinagar for rationalization of J&K reservation policy, sparking debate on fair representation.

Cutting across party lines, several mainstream leaders, including ruling National Conference (NC) Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah and Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti, on Monday (December 23, 2024) joined hundreds of general category students to protest outside the residence of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar to seek rationalisation of reservation in the Union Territory (UT).

Ever since the new reservation was policy was introduced by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha-led administration during the Central rule in J&K, an online protest has been gathering momentum for months. General category students and job aspirants have alleged that the new reservation policy under the J&K Reorganisation Act has increased the reservation for Scheduled Tribes by 20% by including Paharis, and has increased the OBC quota to 8%. At present, the quota for reserved category in J&K has risen to over 60% and the chance for open merit students has reduced to less than 40%, the aggrieved students said.

Joining the protesters in Srinagar despite coming from the ruling party, MP Ruhullah said, “We are not against reservation to any community that requires the government’s hand-holding because of being downtrodden, as a matter of justice. At the same time, the open merit aspirants over whom the irrational reservation dangles like a sword deserve justice. No one demands scrapping of reservation to any community but only the need to rationalise it.”

Mr. Ruhullah said there are two ways to rationalise the reservation. “Either the reservation should be done as per the population ratio. If the reserved categories are less than 50% [of the population], then open merit should not face injustice due to the 70% reservation. The other way is to follow the Supreme Court ruling that calls for 50% reservation for open merit students and aspirants,” he said.

The MP said he joined the protesters “neither to create any chaos nor to divide the party but raise the voice for youth”. “People came out to vote so that the local government is strengthened and dictatorship is ended. I am committed to raise voice for people whether it’s the Assembly, Parliament or Cabinet,” he said.

In a rare show of solidarity, leaders of the PDP and incarcerated MP Engineer Rashid-led Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) also joined the protest in Srinagar. “We hope for a time-bound rationalisation of reservation. The government needs to deliver. We are not here to do politics but stand with our youth. The government needs to walk the talk. Unemployment has touched over 35% in J&K. We want equitable distribution and ending students’ distress in J&K,” Ms. Mufti.

PDP legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, who also addressed the protesters, said, “We believe in empowering marginalised communities to not just be present but shape decisions and lead change. However, merit must remain the bedrock of our system. Reservations must serve only as targeted exceptions to bridge inequalities, not as tools for perpetual imbalance. Policies that reduce the majority to a minority are neither just nor sustainable.” He said the open merit category “cannot be sacrificed at the altar of vote-bank politics or divisive agendas”.