Srinagar, Oct 27: National Conference (NC) leader and MLA Majeed Larmi on Monday responded to party MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi’s criticism of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, saying that if Ruhullah believes the Chief Minister has failed to deliver, he should resign from his seat and contest fresh elections.
“The Chief Minister has done nothing, he says. If that is true, then resign from your MP seat won on the National Conference ticket,” Larmi said while speaking to media at Srinagar. “Resign and then fight a new election. Then see and tell people.”
Larmi said every elected leader in the party has the right to speak for their constituency but questioned Ruhullah’s public criticism of the leadership. “If he talks about our people on our ticket, can’t we do the same? We made a promise for five years, not for one year,” he said, as per KNS.
Responding to Ruhullah’s remarks about governance issues, Larmi said several administrative decisions such as the installation of smart meters were made under the Lieutenant Governor’s administration and not by the elected government. “The smart meter was in the LG government, not ours. The LG government issued the order,” he said. “If our government comes, we will throw the smart meters in jail. Let the state return, and you will see.”
He said it was not possible to take major decisions before the restoration of statehood. “Before the state returns, it is not possible. When there is no money here, when there is no flour, who will make the bread?” he said.
Larmi added that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah understands the current challenges faced by the people. “The CM said we are his soldiers. When the time comes, he will understand our situation,” he said.
He said Ruhullah should have raised his concerns directly with the Chief Minister instead of making public statements. “If Mr. Ruhullah had any grievance, he should have come to the CM’s office. This is the problem,” he said.
Larmi said the party was elected for a five-year term and should be judged only after completing it. “We made a promise for five years. It has only been one year. Four years remain. When the term ends, people can decide whether to keep us or remove us,” he said.
He also referred to other party MPs, saying that each representative has a right to highlight local issues. “Every MP and MLA has the right to talk about their people and their interests,” he said.
Larmi said the economic and administrative powers that once belonged to the state now rest with the central government. “Earlier, the Lakhanpur tax and other revenues came to the state government. Today, GST and income tax go directly to the Government of India,” he said. “When there is no money here, when there is no flour, who will make the bread?”(KNS).
