Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday assured a delegation of protesting students that the cabinet sub-committee formed to review the reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir will submit its report within six months, according to student leaders.
The students are protesting against the reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir implemented after the abrogation of Article 370.
National Conference leader and Lok Sabha member from Srinagar Aga Ruhullah Mehdi led a peaceful protest outside the residence of Abdullah to support the demand for “rationalisation” of reservations in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We met the chief minister and held discussions on the reservation issue for about 30 minutes. The crux of the discussion was that the chief minister has asked for six months for the sub-committee to complete its work,” one of the student leaders told reporters after meeting Abdullah at his residence.
Asked if he was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting between the students and the chief minister, the Lok Sabha member said his satisfaction was immaterial.
“If the students are satisfied, I am satisfied. The good thing is that the process of the sub-committee has been made time-bound. Earlier it was open-ended,” Mehdi said.
He said it was wrong to call the event a protest as it was “an assembly of people to discuss” the reservation policy.
Member Parliament (MP) from Srinagar Lok Sabha segement, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi Monday said that chief minister Omar Abdullah promised the student delegation that the government will address the reservation issue within the period of six months.
He termed the time frame given by chief minister Jammu & Kashmir a ‘positive development’.Jammu and Kashmir tourism
“I’m thankful to chief minister Omar Abdullah who listened students over reservation issue and gave time frame of six months to solve this grave and sensitive issue,” MP Ruhullah said.
He said the time frame set by CM Abdullah doesn’t mean it will take full six months. “It may take two or three months only. As one month has already passed, I’m hopeful that the matter will be resolved in coming five months,” he said.
Ruhullah held that we at the same time have to understand limitations of the government as business rules are yet to be cleared.
“Till business rules are not cleared, it will take time for things to shape. I hope in coming one to two months the deliberations will be taken up and things will be cleared accordingly, so that we come to know which subject comes under the jurisdiction of Lieutenant Governor, and which pertains to chief minister,” he said.
He said we will approach Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also if we come to know that the matter falls under his jurisdiction.
