Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, PDP MLA Waheed Para, and ex-Srinagar Mayor Junaid Azim Mattoo stated they were confined to their homes in Srinagar before a student protest on job reservations. Iltija Mufti, daughter of Mehbooba Mufti, also reported being under house arrest, highlighting the security measures in place. Supporters of Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi mentioned armed police outside his residence to prevent his participation in the protest.
PDP MLA Waheed Para expressed frustration over the reservation policy’s impact on the youth’s future, emphasizing the need for transparency and resolution. He urged the government to address the reservation issue promptly and make the related report public. Junaid Azim Mattoo, the former Srinagar Mayor, condemned the heavy security presence outside his home ahead of the planned student sit-in, advocating for justice for students.
The NC government, led by Omar Abdullah, proposed reducing reservation percentages for EWS and RBA categories to increase open merit job reservations to 40% in Jammu and Kashmir. The approval of this change rests with the Lieutenant Governor.
