The News Craving
Sringar:
Senior National Conference leader and Member of Parliament from Srinagar, Aga Ruhullah, led a protest on Monday against the existing reservation policy outside Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s official residence in the Gupkar area of Srinagar.
Leaders from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), including Waheed ur Rehman Parra and Iltija Mufti, also joined the demonstration alongside other legislators and supporters.
According to details shared by the Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Aga Ruhullah began the protest march from Burn Hall School and proceeded to the chief minister’s residence, demanding a more rational approach to the reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir.
The protest saw participation from a broad spectrum of individuals, including legislators Sheikh Khursheed and Waheed ur Rehman Parra, as well as PDP leader Iltija Mufti, the daughter of former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.
Earlier in the day, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed his willingness to join the protest, provided he was permitted by the authorities.
Aga Ruhullah had previously called on the public to participate in the demonstration in a peaceful manner.
The demand for revoking the current reservation policy has been gaining momentum, with students, political leaders, and various parties voicing their support. The policy, introduced by the Lieutenant Governor-led administration ahead of the assembly elections earlier this year, reduced the general category reservation to 40%, despite it representing the majority population, and increased the quota for reserved categories to 60%.
Earlier reacting over the reservation policy, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, said, ” I understand the emotions surrounding the reservation issue. JKNC 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 & is in the process of starting its work by engaging with all stakeholders. In the mean time the reservation policy has also been challenged in the Hon’ble High Court of JK&L. 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.Please protest knowing that the issue has not been ignored or swept under the carpet. Government is doing what any responsible government would do – making sure everyone is heard & a fair decision arrived at after completing due process.”