Srinagar Member of Parliament Aga Ruhullah Mehdi has issued a stern warning to the Jammu and Kashmir administration, threatening to lead a fresh protest alongside students this weekend. This comes exactly one year after a similar demonstration was held outside the residence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Ultimatum Issued, Deadline Set
The National Conference MP has publicly urged the government to immediately engage with the agitating students and clearly communicate the steps taken to resolve the long-pending issue of reservation rationalisation. He has set a clear deadline of Saturday for this dialogue to happen.
In a post on social media platform X, Ruhullah stated, "If that does not happen till Saturday, I will not leave our youth and students helpless. 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." The proposed protest is scheduled for Sunday.
A Year of Unresolved Demands
This confrontation has been brewing for over a year. Ruhullah first aligned himself with the "open merit" or general category students in December of last year, joining their protest at the Chief Minister's residence. The core demand revolves around the rationalisation of reservations in Jammu and Kashmir based on population.
Student organisations argue that the current reservation structure, which exceeds 60% for various reserved groups, severely limits opportunities for the larger pool of unreserved students. Ruhullah had previously given the government until December 20, coinciding with the end of the Parliament's Winter Session, to find a solution. With that deadline passed, he is now escalating his stance.
Party's Response and Internal Tensions
In November, the MP had even issued an ultimatum to his own party, the National Conference, to address the concerns. The party's response indicated that the reservation report had been finalised and sent to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for approval.
On Friday, party spokesperson and legislator Tanvir Sadiq clarified the status, saying, "Cabinet has decided on this issue 25 days back as we had promised in our manifesto. That file is now with the Raj Bhawan and we hope that it is cleared soon."
This public disagreement highlights the growing differences between Ruhullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The MP has consistently expressed frustration over the "government's lack of progress" on promises made in the party's election manifesto. He has also pointed out that the government initially sought six months to resolve the students' issues, but a full year has now passed without a satisfactory resolution.
What Happens Next?
The ball is now in the court of the Jammu and Kashmir administration. With a prominent MP from the ruling party threatening to hit the streets, pressure is mounting for a swift and transparent resolution. All eyes are on whether a last-minute dialogue will be initiated before Saturday to avert another public demonstration, or if Srinagar will witness a significant political protest this Sunday, echoing the events of last December.
The ongoing dispute underscores the deep-seated and sensitive nature of the reservation debate in the region, with students from the general category clamouring for what they call fair representation in government jobs and educational institutions.
