Jammu, November 3: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra on Tuesday expressed confidence that the National Conference would manage its internal differences, amid political developments following Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi’s resignation from the party and reported dissent among some NC legislators.
Describing Ruhullah’s departure as a possible outcome of ideological differences, Karra said individuals had their own reasons for leaving political parties and suggested that the MP’s political outlook was not in sync with the NC’s direction.
“He had a different perspective, while the party was moving in a different direction. Perhaps there was also a lack of ideological compatibility,” Karra told PTI on the sidelines of a party function in Jammu.
Reacting to questions about the reported discontent within the ruling party following its recent Cabinet expansion, the Congress chief said it was too early to draw conclusions about the stability or tenure of the NC-led government.
He maintained that such developments were not unusual in political parties and could be addressed through dialogue and internal coordination.
“I am very sure that the National Conference will be quite active in handling the situation,” he said.
Drawing parallels with his own resignation from Parliament and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in September 2016, as well as Ghulam Nabi Azad’s departure from the Congress in August 2022, Karra said political leaders took such decisions for their own reasons.
On BJP leader Ram Madhav’s visit to Jammu and speculation about a possible political development following his visit, Karra said the Congress had no information suggesting any such move.
“As far as we know, there is no such development, nor are we anticipating anything of that sort. We will wait and see what happens,” he said.
Reiterating the Congress’s position on its alliance with the National Conference, Karra said his party would stand firmly alongside the ruling party whenever it faced a threat from the BJP.
“We have always maintained that whenever the National Conference faces any threat from the BJP, the Congress Party must stand firmly alongside the National Conference,” he said.
Karra also said the Congress would continue its campaign for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, adding that the party had been holding protests, hunger strikes and outreach programmes over the past two years.
He cited campaigns such as ‘Jammu Chalo’ and ‘Delhi Chalo’ under the slogan ‘Our State, Our Right’, saying the movement would continue until statehood was restored.
