Several political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir were reportedly placed under house arrest on Sunday to stop them from joining a students’ protest at Lal Chowk in Srinagar over the reservation policy.
National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, PDP MLA Waheed ur Rehman Parra and former Srinagar mayor Junaid Azim Mattu were scheduled to attend a peaceful sit-in organised by the Open Merit Students Association J and K near Polo View Market. The students planned the protest to demand a fair and balanced reservation policy, withdrawal of Rule 17, equal opportunities for aspirants and a halt to further reservations until a full review of the policy.
According to aides of Aga Ruhullah, police and paramilitary forces were deployed outside his residence since Saturday evening. His office said the MP was officially informed that he was under house arrest and not allowed to step out. In a post on X, the office claimed that some students were detained late Saturday night and their families were intimidated for demanding a fair chance through a rational reservation policy.
“Is this a pre emptive crackdown to silence a peaceful pro student demonstration. If yes it exposes a disturbing fear of dissent. Authorities owe the public an explanation,” the office of Aga Ruhullah said, adding that plans for the protest remained unchanged.
Former Srinagar mayor Junaid Mattu also said heavy deployment of Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF personnel was made outside his residence. “A policy of apartheid against students can neither attain legitimacy nor permanence by curbing voices seeking justice. I stand with the students,” Mattu said.
PDP spokesman Tajamul Islam said that Waheed ur Rehman Parra was placed under house arrest in the middle of the night. “Why is a peaceful protest for students’ rights being weaponised,” he asked.
PDP leader Iltija Mufti also alleged that she was put under house arrest in Srinagar. “This is the normalcy in Naya Kashmir. An entire contingent of female police personnel has been deputed at my gate to physically stop me. Under what grounds,” she wrote on X.
Earlier, Aga Ruhullah had warned the administration that he would join students and unemployed youth if the government failed to engage with them on the issue. He later said he had not abandoned the students and urged the government to start dialogue and explain what steps had been taken so far.
The reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir has become a major flashpoint after the Open Merit quota in government jobs reportedly dropped to around 40 percent. Over the past five years, reserved categories have been expanded, pushing the total reservation beyond 60 percent.
After large-scale student protests in December last year, the Omar Abdullah government formed a cabinet sub-committee to review the policy. Earlier this month, the cabinet approved the panel’s report, which proposes an increase in the Open Merit quota by cutting percentages from other categories. The file has been sent to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, whose approval is still awaited.
Except for the BJP, most political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have raised concerns over the existing reservation policy and demanded a more balanced and rational framework.
