JK Srinagar, August 28: A fresh political confrontation has emerged within the National Conference after party MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi openly challenged Dr Farooq Abdullah’s criticism of him, raising pointed questions over the party’s position on Article 370, statehood and its 2024 election commitments.
Ruhullah, responding strongly to Abdullah’s demand for his resignation, questioned the logic behind criticising political engagement with the Centre while simultaneously seeking restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood from New Delhi.
He argued that limiting the political demand to restoration of statehood would effectively amount to accepting the constitutional changes introduced after August 2019 as the new status quo. According to Ruhullah, statehood cannot replace the constitutional protections that he believes were assured to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The NC MP also turned his focus to the party’s 2024 manifesto, asking why the National Conference had pledged to pursue the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A despite the BJP being in power at the Centre.
He questioned whether the promises were made despite an awareness that they could not be implemented, or whether the issues were raised primarily to mobilise voters during the election campaign.
Ruhullah said he could not remain associated with what he described as a betrayal of the trust placed in the party by its voters.
On the resignation demand, he said he was ready to step down but maintained that accountability must come first.
“Resignation will come. It would have come even without you asking, but before that must come accountability,” Ruhullah said.
He further questioned the political consistency of the party leadership, pointing to Farooq Abdullah’s tenure as Chief Minister when the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly had adopted the Autonomy Resolution.
Ruhullah asked why demands for greater constitutional safeguards, which had previously formed part of the National Conference’s political discourse, had now become a source of controversy within the party.
The NC MP also responded to Abdullah’s remarks about his political background before joining the party. Referring to his family history, Ruhullah said he belonged to a family with a “long tradition of martyrdom” and was the son of a martyr. He further claimed that he had not sought entry into the National Conference but had instead been invited by Farooq Abdullah himself.
The exchange highlights growing differences within the National Conference over the party’s political direction following the abrogation of Article 370. Ruhullah’s remarks indicate that questions surrounding constitutional safeguards, statehood and the party’s earlier commitments are increasingly becoming a point of internal debate.
By Mansoor Qadir.
