Srinagar: National Conference (NC) Member Parliament Ruhullah Mehdi on Wednesday said that he would join a sit-in protest outside the Chief Minister’s office if no decision is taken by the government on the controversial Jammu and Kashmir’s reservation policy by next month.
The warning comes against the backdrop of growing frustration among the open merit candidates over alleged disparities in job quota allocations introduced by the Centre.
Mehdi was responding to a social media post apparently by an aspirant, that claimed they voted for Omar Abdullah due to the commitments made by the MP.
“inshahallah if you will not give any response to our demands we start sleeping in open air outside your residence. Sir only 26% jobs for 70% OM population,” the post read.
Reacting to the post, Mehdi reiterated his commitment to the “cause” and said that he has neither forgotten nor backtracked on the issue of rationalisation of reservation. The firebrand MP of NC said that he had talked twice with the chief minister multiple times with other colleagues about this issue.
“Away from the X (Twitter) I have talked with HCM twice and multiple times with other colleagues about this issue. I am told that there is some confusion about the distribution of the rules of business on many issues between the elected government and the other undemocratically imposed office and this subject is one among them. I am assured that the government will take a decision to rationalise the policy soon,” Mehdi posted on X.
“While I respect the institution of the elected government and their right to make decisions. And I think it is fair and logical to give them some time to find a solution. I, at the same time, understand the urgency of the matter. Therefore, I would request all of you to wait till I attend the Parliament session which starts from 25th Nov and concludes on 22nd Dec. If the decision is not taken till then, I will sit with all of you outside the residence or the office of the Chief Minister,” he added.
On Tuesday, PDP leader and MLA Waheed Para had raised concerns over the reservation distribution in the recruitment of lecturers in Jammu and Kashmir.
Para pointed out that out of 575 lecturer posts referred for recruitment, only 238 are for open merit candidates, while 337 are reserved.
