Srinagar: National Conference MP from Srinagar Aga Ruhullah Mehdi says that the party has “virtually ended” all communication with him, especially after his participation in a students’ protest demonstration against the controversial reservation policy outside the CM’s residence last year.
“Until the assembly elections, my opinions mattered. Even if the party disagreed with my methods, it still supported my ideas. But after the reservation protests, the party stopped engaging with me,” Ruhullah said while speaking during an X Space session as per news agency JKNS.
He said the disconnect began right after the elections were over. “From the time they persuaded me to fight Lok Sabha elections to the period just before the assembly polls, I was consulted. But soon after, my views stopped being acknowledged,” he said.
Ruhullah stated that the NC leadership has not sought his inputs in recent times, even though he continues to represent the party in the Parliament. “There are no takers for my political thinking now,” he said.
The Srinagar MP, however, clarified that he refrained from confronting the party directly because he understood its compulsions. “I know they have to manage equations with the central government for governance. That’s why I didn’t impose my stance on them. At least no one can say that I cost them statehood!” he said.
He attributed the fallout to his support for the December 23 protest. “I didn’t organise any protest. It was a spontaneous gathering of students who felt betrayed. I just stood with them. If my presence helped raise their voice, I consider it my duty fulfilled,” Ruhullah said. “Call it a protest or anything else, it doesn’t matter. If standing with students made me an enemy in the party, I’m okay with that.”
“I have a moral duty to speak for my people, both within and outside the party. But this disconnect is eating me up from the inside,” he said.
Ruhullah stressed that his politics wasn’t motivated by ambition. “What I say comes from my conscience, not from any political design. I don’t need to prove it to anyone. God is my judge.”
The protest he referred to was held against the new reservation policy which, students say, cuts the open merit quota down to about 30 percent. The remaining seats are now earmarked for reserved categories. The move has triggered anxiety among general category aspirants.
In response to the protest, CM Omar Abdullah had said that a Cabinet sub-committee would re-examine the policy and consultations with stakeholders were underway.
It is important to note that on Saturday ACB filed a chargesheet against 22 individuals, including Ruhullah and six of his relatives, alleging manipulation of land revenue records.
Ruhullah termed the chargesheet as baseless. When asked if there has been any communication from his party after the ACB chargesheet, Ruhullah said, no one from the National Conference had contacted him. “Had they done so, they would’ve known the facts of the case,” he added, expressing concern over the party’s internal communication. (JKNS)
