Ruhullah joins students protest against reservation
Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Dec 23: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today assured a delegation of protesting students that the Cabinet Sub-Committee formed to review the reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir will submit its report within six months.
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The students are protesting against the reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir implemented after the abrogation of Article 370.
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Following the meeting, Omar posted on X: “The beauty of democracy is the right to be heard & dialogue in a spirit of mutual cooperation. I have made certain requests and given assurances to the representatives of the Open Merit Students Association. This channel of communication will remain open without intermediaries.”
“We met the Chief Minister and held discussions on the reservation issue for about 30 minutes. The crux of the discussion was that the Chief Minister has asked for six months for the Sub-Committee to complete its work,” one of the student leaders told reporters after meeting the Chief Minister at his residence.
National Conference leader and Lok Sabha member from Srinagar Aga Ruhullah Mehdi earlier led a protest outside the residence of Omar to support the demand for “rationalisation” of reservations in Jammu and Kashmir.
The protesters, carrying placards with slogans like “Justice for Open Merit” and “Eradicate Draconian Rule 17,” gathered outside the residences of the Chief Minister on Gupkar Road in Srinagar. Leaders from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), including Iltija Mufti and Waheed Parra, as well as Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) legislator Sheikh Khursheed, also participated in the demonstration.
During a passionate address to the gathering, Mehdi, who had recently raised the issue in Parliament, called on the Government to either adjust the reservation policy in accordance with the population proportions of reserved categories or implement the Supreme Court’s 50% cap on reservations. “I made a commitment to the students that I would stand with them, and today we are here to demand justice. I am with them and will support them in taking this to its logical conclusion,” he said. He said, adding only be satisfied when the students’ concerns were fully addressed
The protests were sparked by dissatisfaction with the reservation policy introduced following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Students claimed that reducing the open merit quota to 40% or less violates Supreme Court directives. “It has led to an unfair distribution of medical seats,” an MBBS student said, adding that this year only 29% of seats were filled by students from the open merit category while the rest were distributed among the reserved categories.
A five-member delegation, which was formed during the protest and represented students from Central, South, and North Kashmir, met with the Chief Minister to present their concerns and demands. After the meeting, a student representative briefed the media about the deliberations. “We spoke with him for half an hour, presenting all our queries and citing official data to suggest possible solutions. CM provided actionable points. For instance, he mentioned issues related to the 10% EWS quota and Rule 17, which fall within the Government’s domain and can be addressed immediately. He assured us that these matters would be resolved. He also mentioned that the Sub Committee will address other broader concerns in a time-bound manner, promising a resolution within six months. However, he clarified that six months is the upper limit, and decisions could happen sooner,” he said.
The delegation also raised the issue of the 76.5% open category reservation. “He assured us that the Sub Committee would consult all stakeholders and ensure a fair and just solution,” the student representative said.
However, the six-month time frame has drawn apprehension as major exams and recruitment cycles are ongoing. “Omar himself mentioned inclusivity but suggested that faster decisions are needed for the process to be meaningful. Regarding recruitment, no specific assurances were given,” the representative added.
When asked if he was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting between the students and the Chief Minister, Ruhullah said that his satisfaction was immaterial. “If the students are satisfied, I am satisfied. The good thing is that the process of the Sub Committee has been made time-bound. Earlier, it was open-ended,” Mehdi said.
He also clarified that it was wrong to call the event a protest, describing it instead as “an assembly of people to discuss” the reservation policy.
PDP leader and MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra called for urgently addressing the reservation policy issue. “We are not here for political mileage. The future of our youth cannot be neglected. With the alarming unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir and the absence of a robust private sector, public sector opportunities are crucial for our youth,” he said.
PDP leader Iltija Mufti slammed the Government for its inaction. “It has been a month since the Cabinet Sub-Committee was formed, but there has been no progress. Hollow promises won’t suffice; the Government must act decisively,” she said.
She urged the administration to demonstrate leadership during this crisis. “This is a test of governance. A fair and time-bound resolution to the reservation policy issue is what we expect,” she said.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq extended his support for the protesters in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “The issue of reservations should be addressed with justice and fairness. The current policy undermines the interests of the general/open merit category. I appeal to the authorities to address their concerns immediately.”
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