Particle.news
Download on the App Store
5 ARTICLES
·
yesterday

J&K Places Political Leaders Under House Arrest Before Student Reservation Protest

A cabinet panel’s quota rationalisation report remains with the Lieutenant Governor, fueling student demands for action.

NC president Farooq Abdullah, however, lashed out at Mehdi without naming him. “Please ask the leaders what they want. We are doing whatever we can. I think they don’t want the progress, which the state is going through. Perhaps, they want disruption, which we won’t allow,” Farooq said. (PTI File)
Image
Image
The authorities in Kashmir foiled the sit-in protest of open-merit students and job aspirants planned in Srinagar demanding rationalisation of reservation policy after putting Srinagar Member of Parliament (MP) Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, who was expected to lead the protest, and other political and student leaders allegedly under house arrest and deploying heavy security in the city centre, the leaders said on Sunday. (Representational image)

Overview

  • Authorities confined Mehbooba Mufti, Iltija Mufti, NC MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, PDP leader Waheed Parra and ex-Srinagar mayor Junaid Mattoo to their homes to block a planned sit-in in Srinagar.
  • The protest targets 2024 reservation changes that added more than 15 castes and a 10% quota for Pahari speakers under ST, which critics say shrank open merit in jobs and admissions.
  • NC’s Tanvir Sadiq said the cabinet sub-committee has finished its review and sent recommendations to Raj Bhavan, underscoring that final action now lies with the LG’s office.
  • Mehdi alleged students faced arrests and police intimidation and asked whether the detentions were ordered by the Omar Abdullah government or by LG Manoj Sinha’s administration.
  • NC president Farooq Abdullah defended the house arrests as necessary to prevent disruption, as J&K Police and the LG’s office did not issue public statements.