SRINAGAR: Political discontent over Jammu and Kashmir’s reservation policy continues to escalate as Jammu Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) leader and Member of Parliament Ruhullah Mehdi expressed his readiness to join a sit-in protest outside the Chief Minister’s residence if the concerns regarding the rationalisation of reservation are not addressed. His remarks come amid rising public outcry over perceived imbalances in the allocation of job quotas.
Responding to a tweet highlighting the issue, which claimed, “Only 26 per cent jobs for 70 per cent OM population,” and threatened to start a protest outside the Chief Minister’s residence, Mehdi reiterated his commitment to the cause. “I have neither forgotten nor backtracked on the issue of rationalisation of reservation,” Mehdi wrote, adding that he had already raised the matter directly with the Chief Minister twice and discussed it extensively with colleagues in the government.
Mehdi attributed the delay in addressing the issue to what he described as “confusion about the distribution of the rules of business on many issues between the elected government and the undemocratically imposed office.” He assured that the government had promised to resolve the matter soon but stressed the need for urgent action. While urging patience until the conclusion of the parliamentary session from November 25 to December 22, Mehdi warned, “If the decision is not taken till then, I will sit with all of you outside the residence or the office of the Chief Minister.”
The issue has also drawn criticism from within the political spectrum, with People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed Parra openly challenging the NC-led government’s handling of the policy. Citing a recent instance, Parra tweeted, “Out of 575 lecturer posts referred to JKPSC for recruitment, only 238 are for open merit students, while 337 are reserved. This injustice needs to stop!” He further questioned why the NC-led government continued with a reservation policy introduced during the BJP regime, urging party leader Omar Abdullah to align the policy strictly with population numbers.
The controversy underscores growing dissatisfaction over the reservation system, with critics alleging it disproportionately benefits certain groups at the expense of the open merit category. Calls for an overhaul of the policy have intensified, placing pressure on the NC-led government to address the grievances promptly.
As public frustration grows, the government faces a delicate balancing act between respecting its electoral mandate and ensuring equitable opportunities for all. The upcoming parliamentary session and the government’s response to these demands will likely determine the trajectory of this escalating issue. -(KL)
