Member of Parliament from Srinagar and estranged National Conference leader Aga Ruhullah Mehdi on Thursday issued an ultimatum to the J&K government, asking it to address demands for the rationalisation of the reservation policy in the union Territory by Saturday.
In a post on X, Ruhullah said he has neither forgotten nor abandoned the students agitating on the issue.
“I urge the government once again to talk to the students and apprise them of the measures and decisions taken to resolve this issue. If that does not happen till Saturday, I will not leave our youth and students helpless,” the MP said.
Ruhullah said he would sit with the students on Sunday to further highlight the reservation issue.
“I will walk with them and sit with them on this coming Sunday at the same place as we did last year on December 23 to make them heard,” he added.
On December 23 last year, several mainstream leaders, including Ruhullah and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti, had joined general category students in a protest outside the residence of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar, seeking rationalisation of the reservation policy in the union Territory.
Earlier this month, the Chief Minister said his government had rationalised the reservation policy in the “best possible manner” to ensure justice to all sections and fulfil a key poll promise, adding that the proposal had been forwarded to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for approval.
Over the past year, the Lok Sabha MP has fallen out with the National Conference leadership on several issues, including the existing reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir.
Last year, the union Territory administration, led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, implemented a 10% reservation for the Pahari community. This change increased the total reserved seats across various categories to 60%, leaving only 40% of seats available for general category candidates.
The step triggered unrest among aspirants from the general category who have been calling for a review of the new policy. In response to the backlash, the Omar Abdullah-led government had constituted a three-member committee to revisit and review the new reservation framework.
