On December 29, 2025, National Conference (NC) leader Tanvir Sadiq said students should have been allowed to peacefully protest over reservation issues in Jammu and Kashmir. "If they can protest outside the Chief Minister’s residence, why can’t they be allowed to protest elsewhere?" he asked. This statement contrasts with NC president Dr. Farooq Abdullah, who earlier supported the crackdown on open merit candidates’ sit-in protest in Srinagar. The protest was cancelled by open merit students after the government limited reservation quotas to 50% for them. Several political leaders, including NC rebel MP Aga Syed Ruhullah, were placed under house arrest. Meanwhile, NC Rajya Sabha member Chaudhary Muhammad Ramzan downplayed party differences, saying, "Internal debate should not be seen as disloyalty. Aga and the CM have different approaches to solving issues. This difference in method does not mean he (Aga) is against the NC. If he were against the party, he would have resigned." Ramzan added that a Cabinet Sub-Committee has submitted a report on reservation policy under Supreme Court guidelines, and once signed, a new reservation policy will be implemented. The current reservation includes 20% for STs, 8% for SCs, 10% for Reserved Backward Areas, 8% for OBCs, 4% under Local Area Candidates/Integrated Borders, 10% Economically Weaker Sections, and 10% for Children of Defence Personnel/Sports/CDP/PWD. Last year, the Lt Governor's administration increased ST reservation from 10% to 20%.