Srinagar, August 23: National Conference MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi has stepped up his criticism of the party leadership, accusing it of diluting Jammu and Kashmir’s political agenda and questioning the Omar Abdullah-led government over its failure to deliver on key election promises.
Ruhullah, addressing reporters in Srinagar on Saturday, said the party had sought votes on the promise of defending Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional rights but was now asking him to resign for continuing to raise those issues.
“If they want me to resign, at least they should issue a show-cause notice,” Ruhullah said, challenging the leadership to formally explain how he had violated the party’s ideology or political position.
The Srinagar MP said he was prepared to respond to any such notice and insisted that his position was rooted in the mandate he received from voters.
“If I wanted to deceive people, I would have changed my language. I am fighting to implement that mandate,” he said.
‘Instead of 370, they have come to statehood’
Ruhullah alleged that the NC’s political campaign for Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional rights had weakened since the party came to power.
“We have taken votes from the people. They are missing there. They have weakened the fight themselves. They have diluted it,” he said.
“Instead of 370, instead of constitutional rights and guarantees, they have come to statehood and business rules,” he added.
The MP said restoration of statehood alone would not address what he described as the broader political and constitutional concerns of the region.
“The status of Kashmir has to be restored according to the wishes and will of the people of J&K, in which the constitutional guarantees and protections have to be restored,” he said.
Ruhullah said he had raised the issue both inside and outside Parliament, including through engagements with opposition parties and political programmes.
“For that, I have strived in Parliament, outside Parliament, on the streets, in Constitution Club, Jantar Mantar. I have tried lobbying with other political parties,” he said.
Questions 200-unit free power promise
Ruhullah also targeted the government over the 6.83% electricity tariff hike, linking it to the NC’s 2024 Assembly election promise of providing 200 units of free electricity.
“I will prove it. During the election, we promised people of 200 units of free electricity,” he said.
Questioning why the promise had not been implemented nearly two years after the elections, Ruhullah recalled remarks attributed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during the campaign.
“The same chief minister said that he will throw the metres in the river. He couldn’t throw them in the river,” he said.
“Instead of giving 200 units for free, as you yourself said, how many per cent did you increase? Six per cent? Six per cent increase, nearly seven per cent increase. Now I will ask the same question,” he added.
‘Political character is missing’
Ruhullah said his criticism extended beyond his differences with the party leadership, identifying reservation, constitutional rights and the political character of Jammu and Kashmir as issues requiring continued attention.
“The fight for the reservation is not over yet. I am also fighting for the reservation,” he said.
“The biggest fight is for the constitutional rights which were snatched from us. I feel that the biggest fight is for the political character which is missing. There is no character in our politics,” he added.
The MP accused political parties of making commitments before elections and subsequently abandoning or diluting them after coming to power.
“They think that they will tell people one principle and one promise before the election. After the election, they will sell that principle and will violate the promises and will destroy the values,” he said.
“It is because character is missing in politics. The values are missing in politics,” Ruhullah added.
Calling for greater participation by younger leaders, he said he wanted a new generation to enter politics with stronger ideological conviction and principles.
“I want this fight to be fought by the new generation who have the conviction to take this system in their hands,” he said, adding that he wanted to restore “value, character and principles” to politics.
Raises Kishtwar rape case
Ruhullah also raised the issue of the Kishtwar rape case, questioning whether punishment and deterrence were being applied consistently.
“This is a serious matter,” he said, questioning the application of capital punishment and whether it was being pursued consistently irrespective of the identity or religion of those involved.
