Jammu and Kashmir Leaders House Arrested

Several political leaders in India — Jammu and Kashmir, including Mehbooba Mufti, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Waheed Para, Iltija Mufti, and Junaid Azim Mattu, were placed under house arrest by authorities on Sunday. This action was taken to prevent them from joining a planned student protest against the existing reservation policy in India — Jammu and Kashmir. The leaders had publicly expressed solidarity with students who are demanding the rationalization of the quota policy, a year after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah formed a committee to address the issue. Critics, including Waheed Para, accuse the Omar Abdullah government of inaction and a lack of transparency, demanding the public release of the committee's report. The protests stem from concerns that the current reservation policy adversely affects merit-based opportunities for general category students.