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Budgam, Nov 3 : Srinagar Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Tuesday announced his decision to sever ties with the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and resign from his Lok Sabha membership, accusing the party leadership of abandoning its electoral commitments on Article 370, constitutional rights, reservation, employment and other promises made during the 2024 Assembly elections.
Addressing a large gathering at Behisht-e-Zehra Park in Budgam on the 26th death anniversary of his father, Aga Syed Mehdi, Ruhullah delivered a lengthy speech in which he directly criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and NC president Farooq Abdullah. He said his decision was rooted in political principles and not disappointment over being denied a position.
Ruhullah said the Chief Minister had campaigned on restoring Article 370 but subsequently shifted the emphasis towards restoration of statehood. He accused Omar Abdullah of diluting the public mandate and adopting a political position that, in his view, abandoned the party’s earlier commitment.
Explaining his disagreement, Ruhullah said the Chief Minister had presented restoration of Article 370 as his cause during the election campaign but later argued that it was not his fight. He described the change as a betrayal and said he did not want to remain part of what he considered political deceit.
He also questioned the government’s handling of the reservation issue, the promise of 200 units of free electricity, the commitment to provide 12 free LPG cylinders annually and the promise of one lakh jobs. He said these commitments, along with restoration of constitutional guarantees, had formed part of the political campaign on which the NC sought votes.
“Rationalisation of reservation, 200 units of electricity, restoration of constitutional guarantees, that was the fight,” Ruhullah said, recalling the commitments made to voters.
He accused the party leadership of reducing its political agenda to retaining power and securing ministerial positions. He also questioned the Chief Minister’s approach towards the Union government, arguing that the NC had not done enough to carry Jammu and Kashmir’s demands into the national political debate.
Ruhullah criticised Omar Abdullah for publicly praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi during official engagements, saying the Chief Minister could instead have used such occasions to raise the demand for restoration of constitutional rights.
He also referred to the NC leadership’s position that those responsible for removing Article 370 would not restore it. Questioning the change in the party’s language after the elections, he said he would not be part of what he described as a political lie.
On the release of political prisoners, Ruhullah said the demand had been part of the party’s election-time commitments and accused the leadership of abandoning the promises made to the people.
He also raised concerns over what he described as threats to Jammu and Kashmir’s political autonomy, identity, religious and cultural character and demography.
Ruhullah said the party’s decision-making and political direction had convinced him that it was no longer committed to the ideology on which it had sought public support. He referred to Farooq Abdullah’s remarks challenging him to restore Article 370 if he believed it was possible, saying those remarks had provided clarity about the leadership’s position.
The MP also recalled that he had initially sought to challenge the party’s direction from within, but said he could no longer continue in an organisation whose actions he believed contradicted its electoral commitments.
He described his resignation from the party as a “decree of freedom” and said he wanted to work towards bringing honest and compassionate young people into politics.
Ruhullah said he was more interested in building a movement for the restoration of dignity and respect for the people of Jammu and Kashmir than simply moving from one political party to another. He said he would look for people who could be trusted before deciding on the shape or name of any future political platform.
He also indicated that he could contest a parliamentary by-election as an Independent if the situation required it.
Ruhullah, who was elected to the Lok Sabha from Srinagar on an NC ticket in 2024, said he believed the party had failed to honour the mandate it received from voters. His formal resignation from the parliamentary seat will take effect in accordance with the applicable procedure once dealt with by the Lok Sabha Speaker. [KNT]
