National Conference’s Srinagar Member of Parliament Aga Ruhullah Mehdi on Monday led a protest against the state government outside the residence of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar to seek rationalisation of reservation in the Union Territory (UT).
Ruhullah Mehdi announced the protest on social media, in response to his earlier commitment to students who sought his support against the new reservation policy under the J&K Reorganisation Act.
The JKNC leader had given the newly elected government an ultimatum till 22 December to address the issue.
PDP leaders Iltija Mufti and Waheed Para joined Ruhullah Mehdi and hundreds of students and job seekers in the protest.
“Our demand is not antithetical to affirmative action—in fact, we are in favour of strengthening it. We believe that inclusion through reservation must go beyond tokenism to foster substantive equality. We believe in empowering marginalized communities to not just be present but to shape decisions and lead change. However, let’s be clear: Merit must remain the bedrock of our systems. 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,” Waheed Para wrote on X while welcoming Syed Ruhullah’s call for protest.
The new reservation policy was introduced by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha-led administration during the Central rule in Jammu and Kashmir. General category students alleged that the new reservation policy has increased the reservation for Scheduled Tribes by 20% by including Paharis and the OBC quota to 8%.
The quota for the reserved category in J&K has risen to over 60% and the chance for open merit students has reduced to less than 40%, claims the protesters.
Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also shared his support for the protest, stating that he “would be part of it if authorities allowed.”
“My delegation will be there to support. Will also raise the issue in #JamaMasjid whenever permitted to go,” Farooq wrote on X.
Following the protest, Omar Abdullah assured a delegation of protesters that the cabinet sub-committee formed to review the reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir would submit its report within six months.
“Today I met the representatives of the Open Merit Students Association. The beauty of democracy is the right to be heard & dialogue in a spirit of mutual cooperation. I have made certain requests of them & given them a number of assurances. This channel of communication will remain open without any intermediaries or hangers-on,” the chief minister posted on X.
