by Syed Shadab Ali Gillani
SRINAGAR: Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, a National Conference (NC) leader and Member of Parliament (MP) from Srinagar, led a peaceful protest on Monday outside Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s residence, demanding a more balanced and equitable reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir. This protest marks the first instance of a ruling party leader openly challenging the government’s revised stance on the reservation, implemented post-Article 370 abrogation in 2019.
The new reservation rules, which allocate over 60 per cent of government jobs and educational institution quotas to reserved categories, have ignited a public debate across the region. Critics argue that the policy disproportionately benefits certain groups at the expense of open-merit students, raising concerns about fairness and meritocracy in education and employment.
The protest saw active participation from dozens of students, including those from Government Medical College Srinagar, holding placards with slogans such as “Save Merit,” “Merit Builds Strong Foundations,” and “Merit Matters Most.” Mehdi, addressing the gathered crowd, reiterated the importance of rationalising the reservation system to ensure that opportunities are allocated fairly and that merit is not side-lined.
During the protest, Mehdi emphasised that the demonstration was not a final step but rather a call for the government to act on the dissatisfaction felt by students and the public.
“This is not the last resort,” Mehdi remarked. “We are here to raise our voices for a rationalised reservation policy that considers the demographics of the region and the principles of fairness.” He stressed that the reservation system should either align with the population proportions or be capped at 50 per cent, by Supreme Court guidelines.
Mehdi noted that while Jammu and Kashmir’s reserved categories might constitute 30-35 per cent of the population, he was open to a 50 per cent cap on reservations, provided the remaining 50 per cent is allocated to the open merit category. “We are not against reservation, but it must be proportional,” he stated, reiterating that the goal was to ensure fair opportunities for all.
In his speech, Mehdi also highlighted the constitutional limitations following the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, which curtailed the Union Territory’s governance powers. “We have been deprived of policy-making powers under the Reorganisation Act of 2019,” he explained. “The government may not have the authority to unilaterally change the reservation policy, but it can make recommendations to the central government.” He urged the local administration to formally recommend modifications to the reservation policy to the central government to ensure that the system benefits all communities equitably.
Rationalising, Not Eliminating, Reservation
Addressing concerns that reforms might hurt the interests of reserved categories, Mehdi made it clear that the aim was not to eliminate reservation but to ensure it is fair and aligned with the region’s demographics. “Every community should have access to reservation, but it must be rationalised based on actual population data,” he said. “We are not against providing benefits to marginalised groups, but we want to ensure that no one group is disproportionately favoured at the expense of others.”
He stressed the importance of maintaining merit in the system, particularly in fields like education and healthcare, where professional competence is critical. “A doctor’s or engineer’s qualification must reflect merit, and reservation should not compromise that,” he said.
While the protest was underway, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah posted Rudyard Kipling’s words on social media platform X.
Words by Rudyard Kipling –
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or…— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) December 23, 2024
Unity Across Political Lines
What set this protest apart was the apparent unity across different political parties. Leaders from various political parties, irrespective of their affiliations, participated in the demonstration, reinforcing the non-partisan nature of the protest, which was primarily organised by student groups. Mehdi underscored the importance of collective action, stating, “When we leave politics aside and come together for a genuine cause, it sends a positive message for the region’s future.”
Reflecting on the broader political context, Mehdi noted that the issue of reservation was part of a larger struggle for the restoration of the region’s rights and dignity following the 2019 changes. “These are the consequences of decisions made in 2019. We’ve lost our rights, and our status has been diminished,” he lamented.
Meanwhile, other prominent political figures including MLA Waheed Para, Iltija Mufti, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and former Srinagar Mayor Junaid Mattu, have also voiced their concerns about the reservation system in Jammu and Kashmir. The leaders have called for urgent reforms to ensure that the system is fair and equitable.
Today marks the date I had committed to stand with those whose voices demand rationality in the reservation policy. In my response to a post on X (Twitter) by a concerned citizen, I urged everyone to wait until 22nd December to give the elected government time to address this…
— Ruhullah Mehdi (@RuhullahMehdi) December 22, 2024
Waheed Para’s Wishes
Waheed Para, a prominent leader from the People’s Democratic Party and Member of the Legislative Assembly from Pulwama, said the chief minister has assured that the sub-committee will hand over its report within six months, after which there will be a resolution on the issue.
“Today is a big day for Kashmir as the youth has come together demanding fairness in reservations. From militancy, the youth now is holding talks on reservations based on fairness and transparency. Various leaders from different political parties have come together for a just cause,” said Para.
Today marks the date I had committed to stand with those whose voices demand rationality in the reservation policy. In my response to a post on X (Twitter) by a concerned citizen, I urged everyone to wait until 22nd December to give the elected government time to address this…
— Ruhullah Mehdi (@RuhullahMehdi) December 22, 2024
Earlier in the day, the MLA welcomed Mehdi’s protest over reservation via a post on X. In a tweet, he wrote, “Merit must remain the bedrock of our systems. Reservations must serve only as targeted exceptions to bridge inequalities, not as tools for perpetual imbalance.” He also conveyed wishes and prayers for Srinagar MP.
Iltija Mufti’s Push for Clarity
Iltija Mufti, a vocal advocate for a rationalised reservation policy, has criticised the inconsistent positions taken by the National Conference on this issue. Mufti, who is a key member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), pointed out that the NC had previously stated that the rationalisation of reservation was not sub judice, but now, following the elections, they are claiming that it is. “We need clarity,” she said, expressing frustration with the lack of transparency and consistency. She emphasised that her concern was not with any specific group, but with ensuring that reservation is fairly distributed in a way that reflects the region’s demographics.
Mufti also expressed concern over the lack of progress in addressing the reservation issue. “A committee was set up months ago, but no report has been presented. We are here to fight for these students,” she said, urging the government to fulfil its promise to rationalise the reservation system.
Junaid Mattu’s Call
Junaid Mattu, who has also been critical of the reservation system, reiterated the importance of merit in education and employment. Mattu, who has lived and studied in the US, pointed out that the affirmative action system there focuses on providing opportunities without compromising on merit. “The time for the current reservation system is over,” Mattu argued, stressing that merit should be the key factor in professional fields like healthcare and engineering.
However, Mattu clarified that he supported affirmative action and better opportunities for marginalised groups but emphasised that these should not come at the cost of merit. “We need to restore the sieve of merit,” he said, calling for the government to deliver on its promises to rationalise the reservation policy.
Mirwaiz’s Demand for Justice
Interestingly the influential cleric and leader of the Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, in a post on X, said that 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.
He said that the current status of reservations does that, by undermining the interests of the general/open merit category. He also said that he would raise the issue in Jama Masjid whenever permitted to go.
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…
— Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) December 23, 2024
A Label of Theatrical Act
Even as many praised Ruhullah’s efforts, the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party president, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, termed the protest a “political gimmick” by Ruhullah.
Bukhari accused the MP of disrespecting public intelligence, saying, “Instead of addressing his party leader directly, staging protests and writing open letters shows a complete disregard for common sense.” He dismissed the MP’s actions as theatrical, adding, “The days of such gimmicks are over. People can tell the difference between real efforts and theatrics.” Bukhari urged the MP to reconsider his approach, warning that underestimating public intelligence would be both unwise and disrespectful, undermining the seriousness of political concerns.
The Chief Minister’s Response
In response to the ongoing protests, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met with a group of students to discuss their concerns. Abdullah acknowledged some of the issues that were raised, including the exclusionary nature of the 10 per cent Economic Weaker Sections (EWS) quota, and assured students that actionable changes would be made.
“Today I met the representatives of the Open Merit Students Association,” Omar Abdullah wrote on X. “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 remain open without any intermediaries or hangers on.”
The Road Ahead
The protest led by Aga Ruhullah Mehdi has drawn significant attention to the controversial revised reservation policy. While the demonstration marks a pivotal moment in the region’s political landscape, it remains to be seen whether the government will heed the calls for reform. The policy’s outcome will likely depend on the government’s willingness to engage in dialogue and make adjustments to ensure a fairer and more inclusive system.
As protests continue and the demand for rationalisation grows, it is clear that the conversation around Jammu and Kashmir’s reservation policy is far from over. Mehdi’s leadership and call for unity across political lines have set the stage for a broader, more inclusive discussion on the future of reservation in the region.
