Srinagar, November 25, 2025 : Estranged National Conference Lok Sabha MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has issued a stern ultimatum to the J&K government, urging it to resolve the reservation policy controversy before the Winter Session of Parliament concludes on December 19. He warned that if the matter remains unaddressed, he will join the ongoing quota protests alongside aspirants.
Mehdi, who represents Budgam and is a prominent Shia leader, backed the demands of general category candidates seeking a review of the current reservation policy. He accused the UT administration of showing indifference toward the frustrations of unemployed youth.
“What will it take for those in the government to understand the agony and hopelessness that our aspiring youths are facing? Doesn’t today’s case in the Vaishno Devi University about students with merit open their eyes?” Mehdi asked in a post on X.
Last December, he had joined student protests outside CM Omar Abdullah’s residence, demanding rationalisation of the quota system. In response, Abdullah constituted a Cabinet sub-committee, with a six-month deadline to recommend reforms. Although the Cabinet accepted the committee’s report on October 16, it still awaits approval from the Lieutenant Governor.
Mehdi criticised the delays, saying the promised six months had stretched into a full year:
“Even if they solve this issue sometime in future—which I think is unlikely—what will compensate the years already lost by job aspirants?”
He warned that if the government does not act by December 20, he will join the protesters once again:
“I will sit with them again the way we did last December. And this time it will not be for a day.”
Mehdi Slams BJP Over SMVDU MBBS Admissions Row
In another post, Mehdi criticised the BJP for objecting to Muslim students outnumbering Hindu students in MBBS admissions at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), calling it a “selective use of religion.”
“So now we’re told Muslim students shouldn’t study at Vaishno Devi University because it has Hindu donors, even though it’s a state-backed institution,” he wrote.
He questioned the contradiction of objecting to Muslim admissions at SMVDU while simultaneously appointing non-Muslims to Waqf Boards:
“What principle is at work here?”
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also rebuked the BJP’s stance, reminding that SMVDU admissions must be strictly merit-based, as mandated during its establishment. Officials clarified that since the newly created medical institute has no minority status, admissions for the maiden MBBS batch of 50 seats were given entirely on merit—resulting in 42 students from one community being selected.
Right-wing groups have demanded “minority institution” status for SMVDIME, but officials maintain that no religious reservation can apply without formal approval.
