Srinagar: National Conference (NC) leader and MLA Salman Sagar on Tuesday criticised the protest over reservation issue, led by party’s Member of Parliament Ruhullah Mehdi, calling it a “drama” that played into the hands of the party’s adversaries.
On Monday, several political leaders led by Mehdi and a large number of students staged a peaceful protest outside the residence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah against the reservation policy, which was introduced earlier this year by the Lieutenant Governor- administration. Later a group of protesting students met Omar Abdullah who gave them a number of assurances.
The protest over reservation issues brought political adversaries together. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed Parra and Iltija Mufti and Awami Ittehad Party leader Sheikh Khursheed- brother of MP Engineer Rashid also joined the protest.
Speaking to the media, NC leader Salman Sagar expressed disapproval of the protest, stating it was neither sanctioned by the party leadership nor aligned with the NC’s principles.
“This was not a protest of the National Conference. It was a protest of the enemies of the National Conference,” Sagar said, pointing fingers at rival parties like the People Democratic Party for exploiting the situation.
He clarified that protests of this nature should only proceed after directives from top NC leadership, including party president Farooq Abdullah and vice president Omar Abdullah.
Sagar further criticized Ruhullah’s involvement, calling the protest a “drama” and said that no one benefited from it.
“Unfortunately, our MP was also there. This gave our adversaries an opportunity to organize such gatherings and secure political points,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of internal dialogue, Sagar emphasized that democracy within the NC ensures grievances are addressed systematically.
“If there are issues, they should be resolved within the party structure. Such actions outside the system are not democratic,” he added.
While expressing solidarity with students protesting against alleged injustices in reservation policies, Sagar denounced attempts by political opponents to manipulate the situation for their gain. He reaffirmed the NC’s commitment to protecting the aspirations of the open merit category under Omar Abdullah’s leadership.
The organisers of the pretest- Open Merit Students Association- express deep disappointment over the remarks made by Sagar.
“Referring to our protest as a “drama” and a “mehfil of enemies” is not only hurtful but also dismissive of the genuine struggles of students fighting against injustice,” a statement by the Association said.
“Are the open merit students seeking fair opportunities the enemies? Or are the leaders who stood by us, setting aside political affiliations, the ones being targeted? Labeling those who supported justice as enemies undermines the sacrifices and efforts of all involved,” it added.
The Association said that they strongly stand in solidarity with Ruhullah Mehdi, who demonstrated exemplary leadership by supporting the students despite the political risks involved.
“His actions reaffirm that justice transcends party lines, and we are immensely grateful for his unwavering support. Leaders like Waheed Parra Sahib, Junaid Mattu Sahib, Iltija Mufti Ji, Sheikh Khursheed Sahib, and others also stood by us, proving that the fight for justice is a collective responsibility,” the statement added. “
The statement said they hoped NC leadership will take note of the students’ concerns and ensure that their voices are heard.
UNI
