Onlykashmir.in News Desk
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 restoration of special status and reservation reform in Parliament.
In a lengthy statement posted on X, the party described Ruhullah’s recent speech as a manifestation of what it called his “mental and moral bankruptcy”. It accused 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, the NC alleged that Ruhullah decided to quit only 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 continued as a minister in the Omar Abdullah-led government until a general reshuffle and later contested the 2014 Assembly elections on an NC ticket.
The party asked what concrete efforts Ruhullah had made in Parliament to mobilise opposition parties and MPs for restoration of special status. Recalling the November 6 resolution passed by the J&K Legislative Assembly seeking restoration, the NC noted that Ruhullah had initially welcomed it, describing it as a promise delivered. It further asked why he had not tried to build parliamentary support for special status or statehood, despite gathering the signatures of more than 100 MPs from different parties for an impeachment motion against Allahabad High Court judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav.
On reservation, the NC said Ruhullah directed his criticism at the elected government rather than holding the Lieutenant Governor and the Central Government accountable for the existing policy, which it described as unjust to the open merit category. The party maintained that reservation reform was part of its manifesto and said its government had constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee to examine the matter and recommend changes. It alleged, however, that the file containing the Cabinet’s decisions had been stalled by the authorities.
The NC challenged the MP to say whether he had raised the alleged delay in Parliament or sought an explanation from the Centre. It also asked whether he had organised any protest against the Lieutenant Governor over reservation grievances during the six months between his election to Parliament and the formation of the elected government. Further questions concerned whether he had taken up alleged recruitment irregularities, examination frauds and the exclusion of job aspirants from different regions.
The party said its government was conscious of the limits imposed by the prevailing constitutional and administrative arrangements, but had charted a careful roadmap on issues linked to the identity and existence of Jammu and Kashmir.
The statement marks a sharp escalation in the public confrontation between the NC leadership and Ruhullah, who has increasingly voiced criticism of the party over reservation, governance and other political issues. Ruhullah, for his part, announced earlier the same day that he was quitting the party and resigning from the Lok Sabha.
