In a major protest in Jammu and Kashmir, hundreds of students and political leaders from across parties have gathered outside the residence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to seek a review of the reservation policy, introduced by the lieutenant governor-led administration. Apart from opposition leaders, Abdullah’s son also came in support with students.
Several of the prominent politicians, including MP Ruhullah Mehdi, a member of Omar Abdullah’s party, the National Conference, He earlier on Sunday called for a mass protest at Gupkar Road outside Abdullah’s residential office to make changes in the reservation policy of the state. Opposition leaders, including Waheed Para, Iltija Mufti, and Sheikh Khurshi (brother of Engineer Rashid), stated that the chief minister must do the necessary changes to the system that is not in the favour of the youth of the state.
The students are protesting against the policy introduced before the assembly elections. The policy reduced the reservation percentage for the general category. It increased the reservation percentage for the reserved categories in jobs and admissions, citing the changes were needed for the upliftment of the backward class.
The new system approved 10 per cent reservations for Paharis and three other tribes, which took the total reservations under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category up to 20 per cent. The new system also granted 8 per cent reservations to Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
The parliament approved the reservations for the Pahari ethnic tribe, Paddari tribe, Kolis, and Gadda Brahmins in the budget session in February. Talking to students, Ruhullah Mehdi stated that there might be some confusion regarding the authority to take decisions on the issue.
“I am told that there is some confusion about the distribution of the rules of business on many issues between the elected government and the other undemocratically imposed office and this subject is one among them. I am assured that the government will take a decision to rationalise the policy soon,” Mehdi was quoted as saying.
However, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday clarified that a committee has been formed to review the policy, and it will abide by the court directions on the matter.
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