The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday placed National Conference Lok Sabha MP Aga Mehdi Ruhullah and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti under house arrest in a bid to curb anti-reservation protests in Srinagar, officials said.
According to sources, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi were placed under house arrest to prevent them from joining a students’ protest against the existing reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir.
The anti-reservation protests, which were likely to be held in the summer capital on Sunday, have been scuttled by the government, Ruhullah said.
Ruhullah had planned a protest and a sit-in at Sher-i-Kashmir Park near Polo View on Sunday, calling for the rationalisation of the reservation policy, which has become a contentious issue in the UT.
The MP’s office, in a post on X, shared pictures of police personnel deployed outside his residence since the previous night.
The post from his office read: “Armed police have been deployed outside the residence of Hon’ble MP @RuhullahMehdi. Is this a pre-emptive crackdown to silence a peaceful, pro-student demonstration? If yes, it exposes a disturbing fear of dissent.
“The authorities owe the public an explanation for this deployment. Our plans for tomorrow stand,” he added.
He had led an anti-government protest last year against the Omar Abdullah-led NC government, along with hundreds of students, demanding rationalisation of the reservation policy.
His protests had drawn sharp criticism from the ruling National Conference, with ministers, including Sakeena Itoo, saying that Ruhullah should protest outside the Lok Bhawan, as the government has already approved the rationalisation of the reservation policy and recommended it to the Lieutenant Governor for approval.
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