Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 26: The standoff between Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and dissident National Conference Lok Sabha member Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi is set to escalate on Saturday, with the Srinagar MP announcing his decision to join ongoing student protests over the reservation policy if the government fails to initiate dialogue by December 27.
Ruhullah Mehdi, who has emerged as a vocal critic within the party, warned that continued inaction on the contentious reservation issue would compel him to personally participate in the agitation. He has repeatedly accused the National Conference leadership of reneging on commitments made in its 2024 election manifesto.
Responding sharply on Friday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah rejected any suggestion of yielding to pressure on the issue of reservation in government jobs and professional institutions. In his strongest rebuttal yet, the Chief Minister asserted that he would neither be intimidated nor coerced into taking decisions that are not in accordance with law.
“I am not afraid of anyone’s threats, nor will I take any wrong decision under pressure. Sensitive issues like reservation cannot be resolved through street pressure or ultimatums,” Omar Abdullah said, underlining that such matters must be addressed strictly within the constitutional and legal framework after due consultation with all stakeholders.
The Chief Minister’s remarks came hours af “I am not afraid of anyone’s threats, nor will I take any wrong decision under pressure. Sensitive issues like reservation cannot be resolved through street pressure or ultimatums,” said Omar Abdullah.
Meanwhile, the Omar Abdullah-led cabinet has proposed revisions to the existing reservation framework, recommending an increase in the share for open merit candidates to 40 per cent. To facilitate this, the government has suggested reducing reservation under the Resident of Backward Area category by three percentage points and under the Economically Weaker Sections category by seven percentage points.
If approved by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, the total reservation in government jobs and professional colleges in the Union Territory would stand at 60 per cent, leaving the remaining 40 per cent for open merit candidates.
At present, the reservation structure includes eight per cent each for Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes, 20 per cent for Scheduled Tribes, 10 per cent each for Economically Weaker Sections and Resident of Backward Areas, and four per cent for residents of areas along the Line of Control and International Border. In addition, a 10 per cent horizontal reservation is applicable, comprising six per cent for ex-servicemen and four per cent for Persons with Disabilities. | 