Srinagar, Dec 23: National Conference leader and Member of Parliament Aga Ruhullah led a protest outside Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's official residence today, demanding changes to the reservation scheme in Jammu and Kashmir, which has been criticized for discriminating against open merit category students.
PDP leaders Waheed ur Rehman Parra, Iltija Mufti, and others also joined the protest in support.
According to reports, Aga Ruhullah began the protest march from Burn Hall School, ultimately reaching the CM's residence to demand a rationalized reservation policy for the region.
Earlier in the day, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed his support, saying he would join if permitted by authorities.
Calls for the revocation of the reservation policy in J&K have grown louder, with students' associations, political leaders, and parties joining the demand. The policy, introduced by the lieutenant governor-led administration ahead of the assembly elections, reduced the general category share to 40% and increased reservations for other categories to 60%.
Meanwhile, J&K CM Omar Abdullah, citing the severe cold wave gripping the region, canceled his planned Jammu schedule and assured the protesting students and aspirants that he would review the reservation issue.
The Govt of India’s decision to add new communities to the OBC category and include the Pahari community in the Scheduled Tribe list has significantly diminished the open merit category, which now stands at approximately 40%. Open merit students argue that the Supreme Court’s 1992 ruling restricts reservations to 50%, and any excess is unconstitutional, violating equal access rights.