In a move to pre-empt a planned student demonstration, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have placed prominent political leaders, including a Member of Parliament and a legislator, under house detention. The action comes just ahead of a scheduled sit-in protest by open merit students demanding the rationalization of the reservation policy in the Union Territory.
Leaders Confined, Protest Planned
National Conference (NC) MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed Para confirmed that a heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces was stationed outside their residences on Saturday night. The security cordon was established to prevent them from joining the protest scheduled for Sunday, December 28, 2025, at Polo View in Srinagar.
Former Srinagar mayor Junaid Mattu was also similarly detained. Mehdi's office took to social media platform X to post pictures of police vehicles outside his home, questioning the "pre-emptive crackdown" aimed at silencing a peaceful, pro-student demonstration. "Our plans for tomorrow (Sunday) stand," the post asserted.
The Core Issue: Demand for Reservation Rationalization
The protest stems from a year-long agitation by open merit students in Jammu and Kashmir. They argue that the current reservation matrix is unjust, allocating over 60% of seats to reserved categories and leaving less than 40% for the open merit pool. The students, who form a significant demographic, demand a more balanced system.
Both the NC and PDP had promised to address this issue in their election manifestos. Under pressure, the NC-led government formed a cabinet sub-committee to examine the policy. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that the cabinet has approved the panel's recommendations, which have now been sent to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for final approval.
Political Backing and Government Response
MP Ruhullah Mehdi has been a vocal supporter of the students' cause, having joined their sit-in protest last year. He recently reiterated his commitment, warning the government that he would stand with the youth if their concerns were not addressed by Saturday. PDP's Waheed Para, aligning with Mehdi, has called the reservation policy an "existential issue" for the younger generation, accusing the government of showing "zero intent" to resolve it.
According to reports, the cabinet sub-committee has recommended a 50-50 split between open merit and reserved categories. This rebalancing would involve reducing quotas under the Residents of Backward Areas (RBA) and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) categories and shifting those seats to the open merit pool.
Para demanded transparency, urging the government to make the reservation report public. He emphasized that public accountability cannot be avoided, whether the matter rests with the elected government or the Lieutenant Governor's office.
Alongside the political leaders, police have also detained several youth leaders who were spearheading the protest movement. The situation highlights the ongoing tension in the region over a policy that directly impacts the future of its student population.
