Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir placed several prominent political figures under house detention on Sunday, effectively halting a planned student-backed demonstration against the Union Territory's current reservation policy. The move has laid bare sharp political divisions within the ruling National Conference (NC).
Leaders Confined, Protest Thwarted
Those detained include Srinagar Member of Parliament Aga Ruhullah Mehdi of the National Conference, opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed Parra, and PDP functionary Iltija Mufti, the daughter of former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. The detentions were intended to prevent a protest scheduled for Sunday, which was organized to challenge recent amendments to Jammu and Kashmir's reservation rules.
Mehdi stated that police informed him on Sunday morning that he could not leave his home. He also alleged receiving reports late Saturday night about student arrests and police intimidation of their families. Parra was placed under house arrest late Saturday, while Iltija Mufti confirmed her confinement, criticizing the security measures as a sign of "insecurity and paranoia."
The Heart of the Controversy: The 2024 Reservation Policy
The confrontation stems from months of intense debate over changes to J&K's reservation framework. The original rules, framed in 2004, were amended by the Union government in 2024. The key change grants the Pahari-speaking population a 10% quota under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category. These amendments were implemented the same year by the Lieutenant Governor's administration, which also added more than 15 new castes to the reservation list.
Critics, including Mehdi, student activists, and parties like the Peoples Conference, argue that the revised policy has drastically reduced the open merit share in government jobs and professional college admissions to below 40%. This, they claim, disadvantages a large section of the youth.
Political Fallout and Internal NC Rifts
The issue has created significant pressure on the NC-led government, which must navigate a split authority structure with the Lieutenant Governor. Following a protest outside former CM Omar Abdullah's residence on December 23 last year, Mehdi, Parra, Iltija, and students were invited for talks. Omar Abdullah assured a review, leading to the formation of a cabinet sub-committee.
After months of deliberations, the committee's recommendations were sent to the LG's office early this month, where they remain pending. Mehdi had warned last month that if unresolved, he would join students in protest. Sunday's detentions stopped that plan but intensified the political crisis.
The response from NC leadership has been mixed, highlighting internal fault lines. NC president Dr. Farooq Abdullah defended the detentions, accusing those behind the protest of seeking disorder and chaos. Interestingly, NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar claimed that "many of them, I am told, requested for house arrest."
Simultaneously, NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq reiterated the party's commitment to rationalizing the quotas, noting the sub-committee's report was finalized and sent to the LG. "At this point, the matter is no longer in the hands of the elected government but we will pursue it," Sadiq said.
Mehdi has demanded clarity from the NC-led government on its role in the detentions, as law and order is under LG Manoj Sinha's domain. He asked the government to specify a timeline for clearing the pending reservation file with the LG or join him in protest. He also urged the government to push for a Parliament discussion on restoring J&K's special status, citing a resolution passed by the assembly last year.
As of now, the J&K police and the LG's office have issued no official statements on the detentions. The event underscores the ongoing tensions in the region's governance and the complex political maneuvering around sensitive policy issues.
