National Conference (NC) leader and MLA from Hazratbal, Salman Ali Sagar, on Tuesday, expressed displeasure over a protest led by NC’s Member of Parliament (MP) from Srinagar, Aga Ruhullah, regarding the controversial reservation rules introduced in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370.
The rules implemented by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha-led administration have raised the percentage of reservations to different groups to 60 per cent, leaving only 40 per cent to those belonging to open merit who form more than 60 per cent of the population.
The protest was attended by PDP leaders Waheed Parra and Iltija Mufti. Senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also sent his representatives to support the demonstration, which drew scores of students and commoners.
Ruhullah’s leadership of the protest, however, has stirred controversy within the party.
Speaking to reporters at the NC headquarters in Srinagar, Sagar said the protest was not sanctioned by the NC.
"If the MP believes he can take such action, that is his prerogative,’’ he said. “This was not a party-sanctioned protest.”
He said that protests can only be held under the directions of NC president Farooq Abdullah, vice-president Omar Abdullah, or through instructions from the general secretary's office.
"Protests are not independently organized by individuals. They must be authorized by party leadership,’’ he said. “What happened yesterday was an individual decision, not a National Conference event."
Sagar said the protest provided an opportunity for NC’s political adversaries.
He said that there were more effective ways to address the grievances. “What unfolded was theatrics that benefited no one," he said.
Expressing solidarity with students in the open merit category, Sagar said their concerns must be addressed and that reservations should be based on the population ratio of those from the open merit category compared to reserved categories.
“We will not allow political opportunism to exploit this issue," he said.
Meanwhile, Congress leader and MLA from Dooru, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, also weighed in on the controversy. Criticising Ruhullah for leading the protest, Mir said he should have engaged directly with the chief minister.
"MP Ruhullah was just five minutes away from CM Omar Abdullah. Instead of resorting to a 'camera show', he could have raised the issue directly," Mir said at a press conference in Srinagar.
Mir described Ruhullah's actions as part of a growing trend of seeking media attention. "It has become fashionable to chase camera attention. A responsible MP from NC should have behaved more seriously," he remarked, adding that direct dialogue with the chief minister would have been more effective.
The protest led by Ruhullah outside the chief minister's residence in Gupkar has fueled speculation about internal discord within the National Conference, with observers interpreting it as a breach of party norms and discipline.