Azhar Hussain
SRINAGAR, Dec 27: The reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir, which allocates nearly 60% of seats in jobs and educational institutions to historically marginalized groups, particularly Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Scheduled Castes (SC), was initially introduced as a reform to uplift underrepresented communities.
However, the policy has now become a battleground for political maneuvering, overshadowing its original intent and fueling growing discontent among General Category (GC) students.
While the reservation system was originally designed to promote social equity, its current form has ignited a fierce debate, especially among students from the General Category. They argue that the increasing number of reserved seats compromises merit and limits their opportunities.
What started as a policy reform has now evolved into a contentious issue, its urgency lost amidst the ongoing political squabble.
At the heart of the debate is Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, the Member of Parliament from Srinagar for the National Conference, whose bold leadership of the anti-reservation protests has captured public attention.
On December 23, 2024, Ruhullah Mehdi led a protest outside Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s residence, calling for a reduction in reserved seats from 60% to a more balanced range of 35%-40%. He believes the current policy undermines merit and stifles opportunities for students outside the reserved categories.
This protest, however, has become more than a policy matter; it has evolved into a defining moment in Jammu and Kashmir politics. What makes it noteworthy is the surprising political convergence across party lines. While Ruhullah led the charge, figures from opposing parties, such as Waheed ur Rehman Para of the PDP, Iltija Mufti, AIP legislator Sheikh Khurshid, Inam Un Nabi, and former Srinagar mayor Junaid Mattu, also joined to lend their support, signaling a rare moment of unity on the issue of reservation. This solidarity, despite ideological differences, reflects growing frustration and unity in the face of a policy perceived as inequitable by many.
However, this convergence has also exposed internal tensions within the National Conference. Salman Sagar, a prominent NC leader and MLA from Hazratbal, who also had previously raised the General Category issue in the Legislative Assembly, sharply criticized Ruhullah’s actions, dismissing the protest as a mere spectacle and giving a platform to the party’s adversaries.
Sagar’s reaction showcased the party leadership’s profound resentment, as Ruhullah’s Machiavellian tactics are increasingly viewed by some as a direct challenge to both the party’s authority and its ideological foundations.
Ruhullah, undeterred, responded with a pointed critique, invoking Malcolm X’s famous analogy of the “House Negro” and “Field Negro” to underscore his political independence from the NC’s established leadership.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has found himself in a delicate balancing act, trying to quell the internal rebellion while positioning himself as receptive to the concerns of students.
His response has been carefully measured, meeting with student representatives and offering a six-month window to address the issue. However, his cryptic social media posts, quoting Rudyard Kipling’s poem If, subtly remind his critics that his leadership remains firm, signaling his intention to maintain control over the narrative.
The political ramifications of this internal struggle are significant. The National Conference’s difficulty in managing internal dissent offers an opportunity for opposition parties to exploit the growing disunity within the party.
The PDP, Awami Ittehad Party, and others could potentially capitalize on the NC’s fragmentation, presenting it as a sign of the party’s declining relevance. At the same time, the BJP may frame the NC’s internal conflicts as a symptom of political instability in the post-Article 370 landscape, further undermining the NC’s political standing.
Yet, the reservation issue transcends political infighting. It raises deeper concerns about fairness, representation, and access to opportunities. For many students from the General Category, the growing dominance of reserved categories in educational and professional fields feels like a barrier to their ambitions.
While some argue that the policy was never meant to be permanent, others feel that too much emphasis on reservation is distorting the meritocratic system that has historically defined success in the region.
Ruhullah Mehdi, in his statements, has framed the issue as one of social justice. “Personal ambitions and political gains should never overshadow the broader objective of ensuring equal opportunities for those who need them most,” he remarked.
The debate surrounding reservation in Jammu and Kashmir is emblematic of broader questions about governance, equity, and social justice. It underscores the tension between policies designed to address historical inequities and the desire for a fair, merit-based system.
With the political landscape in flux and internal party divisions becoming more pronounced, the reservation issue has evolved from a policy discussion into a symbol of the larger struggle for representation and political power.
In this moment of political uncertainty, the future of the reservation policy remains unclear. Will the National Conference reconcile internal differences and address the concerns of all its constituents? Or will opposition parties succeed in capitalizing on the growing discontent? The resolution of this issue will not only shape the future of the NC but also the future of political and social equity in Jammu and Kashmir.
