MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi Protests Outside CM Residence Over Reservation Policy | Photo: Yasir Iqbal For Outlook India MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi Protests Outside CM Residence Over Reservation Policy | Photo: Yasir Iqbal For Outlook India As the 40-day period known as Chillai Kalanjilipark, marking the harshest phase of winter in Kashmir, began on December 21 with an unprecedented cold spell, the political situation in the region has started getting hot with National Conference MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi leading a huge protest at the high profile Gupkar road in front of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s residence on December 23 against reservation policy executed by the BJP government.
house of fun free spinsRuhullah was joined by students from different areas of Kashmir, who were seeking scrapping of the reservation policy as they say 70 percent reservation for different categories are marring open merit candidates. Shouting “we want justice” students said the government must review the reservation policy. PDP leader Waheed Parra also joined the protest and said "we have come here to show solidarity with the students," Parra said, adding that all parties should join this "just cause."
When the protests were going on, the Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq tweeted, "The issue of reservations should be addressed with justice and fairness by those in charge, safeguarding the interests of all segments of society, not at the expense of any one group." "The current status of reservations does that, by undermining the interests of the General / open merit category. Fervent appeal to address their concerns immediately," Mirwaiz added extending his support to the students. He also said his delegation will join students to show solidarity.
The protests are happening when Kashmir is experiencing its coldest December in five decades, with temperatures plunging to a chilling minus 8.5 degrees Celsius during nighttime. CM Abdullah had decided to station himself in Srinagar to monitor the electricity and water supply situation. But in Srinagar amid this cold, Omar faced a protest with many students saying the reservation is being to the elites and Abdullah's government should end what they call "tyranny of the elite."
Many students added that Omar Abdullah's government cannot "wash his hands away" from the issue saying the matter is being heard by the Court. "If a matter is heard by a court, it doesn't mean people should stop talking about it," said a student leader.
On December 22, Mehdi announced that he will hold a protest against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah led government. The NC MP said he had urged everyone to wait till December 22 December to give the elected government time to address this issue. “I also said that if the matter was not resolved by then, I would join you in protest outside the Chief Minister’s residence or office,” Aga said ahead of the protest.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was quick to address his MP’s concern on December 22. Reacting to the issue, he said, “I understand the emotions surrounding the reservation issue. Jammu and Kashmir had committed to examining all aspects of it in our manifesto released before the assembly elections. It is as a continuation of this commitment that a cabinet sub-committee was constituted to move towards fulfilling this promise. That sub-committee was only recently notified and is in the process of starting its work by engaging with all stakeholders,” Omar said.
“In the meantime, the reservation policy has also been challenged in the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. We will, of course, be bound by any judgement when the final legal options have been exhausted. It has come to my attention that a protest is being planned in Srinagar to highlight the sense of injustice surrounding the reservation policy. Peaceful protest is a democratic right and I would be the last person to deny anyone that right but please protest knowing that the issue has not been ignored or swept under the carpet,” Omar said, adding that the government is "doing what any responsible government would do - making sure everyone is heard & a fair decision arrived at after completing due process,” he added.
Patnaik, whose earlier government had been a key promoter of Indian hockey and been sponsoring the national men's and women's teams since 2018, hoped for a top podium finish in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
BY Outlook Sports Desk
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… pic.twitter.com/95AN5hwXxg
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) December 23, 2024 Crisis Over Reservation PolicyThe Jammu and Kashmir government has formed a cabinet sub-committee to engage with all stakeholders on the growing controversy over government job reservations as opponents accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of extending reservations up to 70 percent, leaving little opportunity for general category candidates.
Though the Chief Minister is treading cautiously on the issue, aware that it has the potential to escalate into a major crisis, his party’s MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi protest has evoked concern with the party.
The worry within Omar Abdullah's government is that the protest by the party’s MP could be seen as a challenge to the administration. National Conference insiders say that the reservation policy is a form of affirmative action, though additions have been made by the BJP government over the past few years that are at present under review of the High Court. They argue that the MP’s protest is complicating the government’s position, which is already facing multiple challenges.
"The party MP can raise concerns within the party, but going outside that framework suggests to people that the government is inactive which is not a fact," a senior party leader, pleading anonymity, said.
"This protest implies the government is unconcerned, which is not true. The High Court is addressing the issue, and the government is required to respond which it will."
The NC leader said that those who lost the public mandate will attempt to exploit the situation, making it even more difficult for a government already focused on restoring statehood and special status to focus on the real agenda. “The party MP should have discussed the issue with the party first,” he added.
At the same time leaders from the Pahari community have threatened to launch an agitation if the reservation granted to their community ahead of this year's general elections is tampered with.
While the Chief Minister insists that no one's rights would be compromised, the formation of the sub-committee has created anxiety within a section of the Pahari speaking community.
Reservation Extended Before Abudullah GovernmentOn May 21 this year when there was no popular government in place, the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory Government amended the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Rules, 2005, through a Statutory Order (S.O.).
The amendments granted 10 percent reservation to the Pahari Ethnic Group, Gadda Brahmin, Koli, and Paddari Tribe, classifying them as Scheduled Tribe-II. This reservation was separate from already existing 10 percent quota for Scheduled Tribe-I groups, such as Bakerwal, Gujjar, Balti, Beda, Bot, Brokpa, and Gaddi Sippi, who already held ST status.
In Kashmir the PDP MLA Waheed ur Rehman Parra, the NC MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi are on forefront of the debate calling extension of the reservation as unjust.
Parra calls for the scrapping of the reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it can compromise the long-term quality and competence of institutions. He says the reservation has become one of the most important issues in J&K.
“The reservation should be given on the basis of population. If 80 percent people are in the open category, they should be allowed to compete for 80 percent available vacancies and seats,” Parra said.
“This time 80 percent of the population have 20 percent opportunities in J&K and 20 percent of the population has 80 percent opportunities. All across India BJP is opposing the reservation but only they have created havoc in J&K. They have fractured the society on the basis of the reservation,” Parra said. Parra says the BJP has brought those living in hills and those living closer to the Line of Control also under ambit of the reservation without giving any thought to their economic status.
Ruhullah Mehdi had issued an ultimatum to the government, saying he will go for a sit-in outside the Chief Minister’s residence if the policy isn’t reviewed.
Tribal Researcher Dr. Javaid Rahi says people who are opposing reservations are in essence opposing equality within society.“The ‘Reservation’ granted to backward sections including Gujjars-Bakkarwals community in Jammu and Kashmir under Scheduled Tribe category in Jammu and Kashmir, is rooted in social justice and parity, not charity.” However, Rahi early this year was opposing giving reservation to Pharis saying they are the elites and they don’t deserve reservation.
While the leaders of the Phari community have made it clear that they will not tolerate any attempts to alter their reservation benefits, the Chief Minister says the sub-committee, which will consist of three ministers, will submit its report before any decisions are made.
Recognising the political sensitivities surrounding the issue, Omar acknowledged that many youths, particularly those from the open category, feel they are being denied their rightful opportunities.
At the same time, he pointed out that there are groups who have recently been included under the reservation system and are staunchly opposed to any reduction in their benefits. "To address these complexities, the Cabinet has decided to form a sub-committee that will take a comprehensive approach to the issue," he added.
A writ petition in the High Jammu & Kashmir High Court heard listed for Friday challenging amendments to the region's reservation rules has brought more clarity on the issue.
The petitioner, Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, who was also among the petitioners who challenged Article 370, and his co-petitioners, argue that the amendments, made by the Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory government in 2024, are unconstitutional and violate the principles of equity and fairness.
They argue the amendments altered the reservation percentages, reducing the open merit category from 57% to 33%, and the Resident of Backward Areas (RBA) category from 20% to 10% by increasing the reservation in Scheduled Tribe from 10 percent to 20 percent, social caste from 2 percent to eight percent, Area Line of Control from three percent to four person and Physically Handicapped candidates also see increases to four percent. New reservation categories include children of defence (three percent) and police personnel (one percent), sports achievers (two percent), among others.
The petitioners argue that the changes are prejudicial to those in the open merit constituting an "unwarranted discrimination" that contravenes the Constitution of India. They argue that the amendments are detrimental to the larger population of Jammu & Kashmir, which they claim comprises 70% open merit candidates and over 20% RBA candidates.
“The policy of the reservation aims to uplift the unprivileged classes as per their percentage in the overall population but it should not be at the cost of the merit and percentage of open merit (OM) and RBA category candidates who are near about 80% population of UT of Jammu & Kashmir. Same is in violation with the fundamental rights of the petitioners as well as other unemployed youth hence deserves to be set aside,” the petition says.
The Jammu & Kashmir Reservation Rules of 2005, prior to the amendments, had a 57%-43% division between open merit and reserved categories. The petitioners say the open merit group-comprising candidates who are not from any reserved categories-was traditionally afforded a majority of government positions.
However, the new amendments have shifted the balance significantly in favor of increasing reservations for the STs and other groups. They argue that such a shift undermines merit and disproportionately favors those in the reserved categories, including candidates from wealthier or more advantaged backgrounds, who could also fall within the open merit category.
The BJP leader Murtaz Khan says tinkering with the reservation of Pharis is like playing with fire. “The question doesn’t arise if anyone tinkers with Pahari reservation. I am saying Omar Abdullah shouldn’t think of even reducing Pahari reservation,” Khan adds. Another BJP leader from Darhal Jammu Mohammad Iqbal Malik says that their clear message to the government of Jammu and Kashmir is that they will not tolerate any infringement in the reservation. “Any such attempts will meet with strong opposition,” Malik says.
In the crisesjilipark, the petition had given breather to Omar Abdullah’s government to see how the High Court will decide the matter but the only thing which is complicating the political situation for him is his party’s MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi’s stand.
