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Srinagar, Nov 3, : The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, accusing him of political opportunism, self-obsession and failing to effectively pursue the issues of restoration of special status and reservation in Parliament.
In a lengthy statement posted on X, the party described Ruhullah’s recent speech as a manifestation of what it termed his “mental and moral bankruptcy”, accusing him of using derogatory and unparliamentary language against the NC leadership while invoking the Holy Quran and the principles of human dignity.
Questioning the timing of his resignation from the party, the NC alleged that Ruhullah had only decided to quit after being asked to do so by the party president. It also accused him of selectively invoking the events of 2010, pointing out that he had continued as a minister in the Omar Abdullah-led government until a general reshuffle and subsequently contested the 2014 Assembly elections on an NC ticket.
The party also questioned Ruhullah’s contribution towards the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, asking what concrete efforts he had made in Parliament to mobilise support among opposition parties and MPs.
Referring to the November 6 resolution passed by the J&K Legislative Assembly seeking restoration of special status, the NC recalled that Ruhullah had initially welcomed it, describing it as a promise delivered.
The party further questioned why the MP had not attempted to mobilise parliamentary support for restoration of special status or statehood, despite having successfully gathered signatures of more than 100 MPs from different political parties for an impeachment motion against Allahabad High Court judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav.
On the reservation issue, the NC accused Ruhullah of directing his criticism towards the elected government instead of holding the Lieutenant Governor and the Central Government accountable for the existing reservation policy, which it described as unjust to the open merit category.
The party maintained that reservation reform was part of its election manifesto and said its government had constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee to examine the issue and recommend changes. However, it alleged that the file containing the Cabinet’s decisions had been stalled by the authorities.
The NC questioned whether Ruhullah had raised the alleged delay in Parliament or sought an explanation from the Centre over the status of the elected government’s recommendations.
It also challenged the MP to explain whether he had organised any protests against the Lieutenant Governor over reservation-related grievances during the six months between his election to Parliament and the formation of the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir.
Raising further questions about his parliamentary performance, the party asked whether Ruhullah had taken up alleged recruitment irregularities, examination frauds and concerns over the exclusion of job aspirants from different regions.
The NC said its government was conscious of the limitations imposed by the prevailing constitutional and administrative arrangements but had carefully charted a roadmap on issues directly linked to the identity and existence of Jammu and Kashmir.
The statement marks a sharp escalation in the ongoing public confrontation between the NC leadership and Ruhullah, who has increasingly voiced criticism of the party over reservation, governance and other political issues. [KNT]
