The ruling National Conference’s Srinagar MP, Ruhullah Mehdi, on Monday staged a joint protest with the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party outside Omar Abdullah’s residence against the contentious reservation policy, prompting the chief minister to promise a resolution in six months.

PDP leaders, including Iltija Mufti and Waheed-ur-Rahman Parra, joined the protest led by Mehdi to fight for the rationalisation of the reservation policy. The protesters later met Omar to discuss the issue.

“Today I met the representatives of the Open Merit Students Association. The beauty of democracy is the right to be heard & dialogue in a spirit of mutual cooperation. I have made certain requests of them & given them a number of assurances. This channel of communication will remain open without any intermediaries or hangers-on,” Omar posted on X after the meeting.

Mehdi later told reporters that Omar had promised to resolve the issue within six months and called the development positive.

“It would not necessarily take six months…. Some say the time frame they have given is too lengthy. One can understand this government is yet to understand the rules of business. It is not a normal government. Rules of business have not been framed,” he told reporters. “Let the confusion be sorted out. Let the government know what subject is with them and what is not.”

Mehdi said he hoped the cabinet would recommend the rationalisation of reservation to the Centre. “Then we will know whether the government of India is an enemy of the open merit category or they favour reservation,” he said.