Accuses party leadership of abandoning Article 370 stand, betraying 2024 electoral mandate; Calls Omar Abdullah ‘incompetent’, says political power cannot come at cost of dignity
Srinagar, Nov 3: Senior leader Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Tuesday announced his decision to sever ties with the party and resign as the Member of Parliament from Srinagar, accusing its leadership of abandoning the political commitments on which it secured the people’s mandate in the 2024 elections.
Addressing a public gathering in Budgam on the martyrdom anniversary of his father, Ruhullah declared that he was signing a “freedom charter” from the National Conference, signalling a dramatic rupture with the party leadership following months of differences over its political direction and handling of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional demands.
In a scathing attack on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Ruhullah alleged that the National Conference had retreated from its commitment to fight for the restoration of Article 370 and the constitutional rights of the people after assuming power.
He accused the leadership of seeking public support on the promise of safeguarding Jammu and Kashmir’s identity and dignity, only to dilute those commitments once it formed the government.
“You used me,” Ruhullah said, referring to the assurances he claimed to have received from the party leadership before the elections.
The Srinagar MP alleged that the party’s political position had undergone a fundamental shift after the Assembly elections, particularly on the question of restoring the constitutional safeguards withdrawn on August 5, 2019.
Questioning the Chief Minister’s approach towards the Centre, Ruhullah criticised Omar Abdullah for publicly praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi while, according to him, failing to forcefully raise Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional and political concerns.
He alleged that the National Conference leadership had softened its stand on Article 370 out of fear of the BJP, despite having sought votes on a platform centred around the restoration of rights and political dignity.
Escalating his criticism, Ruhullah described Omar Abdullah as “Na-Ahal” (incompetent) and remarked that National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah should teach his son the Quran.
Ruhullah maintained that political office could never be a substitute for dignity and self-respect, asserting that he would prefer to surrender a position of power rather than compromise the principles he had publicly defended.
“If you want to see what real respect looks like, come to Budgam,” he said, in an apparent challenge to the Chief Minister.
