J&K students cancel Srinagar protest over reservation policy after leaders placed under house arrest
SRINAGAR: The Open Merit Students Association on Sunday called off their planned protest in central Srinagar against J&K’s “flawed” reservation policy after authorities placed National Conference MP Aga Ruhullah, PDP MLA Waheed ur Rehman Parra, former Srinagar Mayor Junaid Mattu, and other political leaders under house arrest and sealed the park near Polo View Market in the city centre where the sit-in was to be held on Sunday morning.
“Today’s sit-in cum meet-up on the unfair reservation policy stands cancelled,” the J&K Open Merit Students Association said in a statement.
The sit-in is being organised to highlight long-pending and legitimate demands, including the need for a fair and rational reservation framework, the withdrawal of the “draconian” Rule 17, equal opportunities for all aspirants, and a halt to further reservations until a comprehensive policy review is undertaken.
“There will be no sloganeering, no provocation, and no indiscipline. Participants are requested to maintain discipline, decorum, and unity throughout the programme,” the Association said.
The political leaders, including NC MP Aga Ruhullah, PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra and former Srinagar Mayor Junaid Mattu, were also scheduled to attend the sit-in protest.
Jammu and Kashmir’s Reservation policy has come under intense scrutiny after the Open Merit quota in government jobs has shrunk to 40 per cent.
However, ahead of the scheduled protest by students, the political leaders were reportedly placed under house detention
The NC MP Ruhullah has been placed under house arrest at his residence since last evening.
“Armed police have been deployed outside the residence of Ruhullah Mehdi. Is this a pre-emptive crackdown to silence a peaceful, pro-student demonstration? If yes, it exposes a disturbing fear of dissent. The authorities owe the public an explanation of what this deployment is for. Our plans for tomorrow stand,” the office of the NC MP posted on X.
According to PDP spokesman Tajamul Islam, In the middle of the night, PDP MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Para was put under house arrest.
“Why is a peaceful protest for students’ rights being weaponised?” he questioned.
Former Srinagar Mayor Junaid Mattu also alleged that he has been placed under house detention. “A heavy JKP and CRPF deployment outside my residence right now ahead of my participation in the student sit-in tomorrow. A policy of apartheid against students can neither attain legitimacy nor permanence by curbing voices seeking justice. I stand with the students,” Junaid posted on X.
PDP leader Iltija Mufti, who is daughter of PDP chief and former CM Mehbooba Mufti also alleged that she has been placed under house arrest. "Like many others, Ive also been placed under house arrest at Srinagar today. The insecurity & paranoia of the security agencies knows no bounds. This is the ‘normalcy’ in Naya Kashmir. An entire contingent of female police personnel is deputed at the gate to physically stop me. Care to explain under what grounds," Iltija posted on X
Reservations have become a major flashpoint in J&K following the central government’s decision to expand reserved categories and enhance quotas in Union Territory over the past five years. The reservation policy introduced by Lt Governor's administration before last year’s assembly polls raised the reserved-category quota to over 60%, significantly reducing Open Merit quota.
At present SCs have 8% quota, ST 20%, EWS 10%, Residents of Backward Areas (RBA) 10%, Other Backward Classes (OBC) 8%, ALC/IB 4%. Besides, there is 10 per cent horizontal reservation, including six per cent to ex-Servicemen and four percent to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
After massive students protest outside CM Omar Abdullah’s Gupkar residence in Srinagar in December last year, which was also attended by NC MP Aga Ruhullah and other political leaders, the Omar government constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) to examine grievances raised by aspirants regarding the reservation policy in J&K
The J&K cabinet, in its meeting early this month, approved the Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) report on reservations. The cabinet has forwarded the file for approval to Lt Governor Manoj Sinha.
The CSC report, according to sources, has proposed a 10 per cent increase in the OM quota by slashing the 7% quota of Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and 3% of Reserved Backwards Areas (RBA).
However, Lt Governor Sinha is yet to clear the decision on the increase in OM quota.
All the political parties, barring BJP have voiced concern over the existing reservation policy in J&K and demanded a balanced policy.