More than 15 new castes were also added to reservation list.Several political parties, including Peoples Conference, Mehdi and student activists, said the revised policy has sharply reduced open merit share in jobs and professional college admissions to below 40%.After a protest on Dec 23 last year outside CM Omar Abdullah’s home, Mehdi, Parra, Iltija and students were invited for talks. After months of deliberations, its recommendations were sent to LG’s office early this month and remain pending.Mehdi had warned last month that if the issue was not resolved, he would sit with students in protest.Sunday’s detentions halted that plan but intensified pressure on the NC-led government navigating authority split with the LG amid renewed calls for statehood.NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah defended the detentions, accusing functionaries behind the protest of seeking disorder. He asked government to specify a date by which a reservation file pending approval with the LG would be cleared, or join him in protest.Mehdi also urged government to lead a push for a discussion in Parliament on restoring special status for J&K, citing a resolution passed by the assembly in its first session last year.Police placed Parra under house arrest late Saturday.
Author: Naseer Ganai
Published at: 2025-12-28 19:50:46
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