Reservation Row: Talk to Students by Saturday, or I’ll March With Them on Sunday; MP Ruhulla to Govt.

 

Suhail Khan

 

Srinagar, Dec 25 : In a significant escalation of the ongoing reservation dispute, National Conference Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Thursday issued a public ultimatum to the administration, threatening to personally join student protests if their demands are not addressed.

 

The MP reaffirmed his solidarity with agitating students and demanded the government immediately initiate dialogue and clearly outline concrete steps to resolve the contentious reservation issue. In a statement posted on social media platform X, Mehdi as per Kashmir Convener asserted he had “neither forgotten nor abandoned” the students, stressing that transparent communication from the authorities was urgently required.

 

He declared that if the government fails to establish a dialogue and inform students of substantive measures by Saturday, he will march alongside them in protest on Sunday. The demonstration is planned for the same Srinagar venue where a major protest was held on December 23 last year.

 

“Their voice is my voice. If their concerns are not heard by the administration, I will ensure they are heard from the streets,” Mehdi stated as per this newspaper.

 

The MP’s stark warning comes against a backdrop of sustained student unrest regarding Jammu and Kashmir’s reservation policy.

 

Earlier this month, the government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah approved a revised reservation framework aimed at rectifying perceived inequities in the existing quota system. However, the precise details of the proposed policy remain undisclosed to the public, fueling widespread apprehension.

 

The proposal is currently awaiting approval from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

 

This lack of clarity has provoked anxiety among student bodies and civil society groups, several of which have threatened renewed agitation if the changes are deemed inadequate.

 

The Omar Abdullah government had established a cabinet sub-committee to review the reservation policy for greater fairness. After months of deliberation, its recommendations were forwarded to the Lieutenant Governor’s office, though the final form of the policy remains uncertain.

 

Meanwhile, In a separate but related development, MP Mehdi also expressed profound concern over reports of an alleged assault on a Kashmiri trader in Uttarakhand.

 

“Reports from Uttarakhand indicating that a Kashmiri trader was assaulted for refusing to chant a slogan on religious grounds are deeply troubling,” Mehdi posted on X.

 

He strongly condemned any coercion of citizens to prove patriotism, stating, “Compelling speech violates constitutional freedoms and fundamental human dignity.”

 

The incident reportedly involved a group of five men who assaulted and abused the vendor after he refused to chant a specific slogan. A purported video of the altercation has circulated online, drawing national attention and raising serious questions about communal safety and freedom of expression.

 

The administration has yet to issue an official statement regarding the alleged assault.