Budgam: Srinagar Lok Sabha member Syed Aga Ruhullah Mehdi on Tuesday announced his resignation from the party, accusing its leadership of abandoning key election promises, including the restoration of Article 370, at a rally here marking the 26th death anniversary of his father, Aga Syed Mehdi.
Soon after announcing his resignation from the National Conference, Ruhullah sent his resignation from the Lok Sabha to Speaker Om Birla.
Ruhullah, who was elected to the Lok Sabha on an NC ticket in 2024, also hinted at forming a new political outfit in Jammu and Kashmir during an 80-minute speech to his supporters.
In a show of strength, the influential Shia leader lashed out at NC president Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accusing them of abandoning the fight to restore Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir within the Union of India.
“All the posturing during elections about restoring Article 370, releasing prisoners and providing free electricity were just lies. And I cannot continue to be a part of these lies anymore,” Ruhullah said.
He described his resignation from the party as a “decree of freedom”.
Ruhullah handed his resignation letter to Mohammad Ashraf Mattoo, father of teenager Tufail Mattoo, who was killed during security forces’ action against protesters in early 2010, asking him to forward it to Farooq Abdullah.
Tufail’s death had triggered massive protests against the then government headed by Omar Abdullah, in which Ruhullah was a Cabinet minister.
“This is a charter of freedom. I will not send this (resignation) to Farooq Abdullah. They do not have the standing or worth for me to send it to them.
“This is a message of freedom from this deceitful, corrupt organisation. I am handing this resignation over to Mohammad Ashraf Mattoo Sahab. I request him to forward this resignation with his own hands,” Ruhullah said amid loud applause from his supporters.
Referring to Omar Abdullah, the Lok Sabha member called him an “incompetent” politician with no connection to ground realities.
“You made promises to people but did not keep them. You were only interested in power. Before elections, you went begging for votes. After coming to power, you said on the floor of the assembly that you regret making an election manifesto which is making you accountable now,” he said.
“You were elected to undo what the BJP and RSS did to the people of Jammu and Kashmir but all you managed is to present shawls to those who hurt the feelings and dignity of our people. On the contrary, you browbeat students over reservations, daily-wagers over regularisation and medical interns over a stipend hike,” he added.
In his two-page resignation letter to the National Conference president, Ruhullah said the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 was “paradoxically an opportunity” to reclaim political space and rights, but doing so required struggle, sacrifices and a willingness to pay a price.
“My working assumption then was that the National Conference, the grand old party of Kashmir, was the natural candidate for the struggle that the situation demanded,” he said.
Ruhullah said he had campaigned vigorously for the National Conference during the Assembly elections, while people had also expressed their anger through a massive mandate for the party.
However, he said the NC had made an “about-turn” before the electoral arena had cooled down.
“Personally, I saw this as a betrayal. What hurt me most was that the expectations of people had been betrayed. This happened at a time when J&K faces an existential threat,” he added.
Ruhullah said that while some people wanted him to form a new political party, he was more interested in launching a movement for the restoration of dignity and respect for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We pleaded for support for them (NC) during the 2024 elections and it has turned out to be a mistake. They might have given up but we have not. We will launch a movement where honest and compassionate people come forward to lead the struggle for restoring what has been snatched from us,” he added.
Stressing that he had no ambition to become chief minister, Ruhullah called for a new generation of leaders who understood the suffering of the people and were committed to restoring their dignity.
“Give me youth of character, sincere youth, whose principles are clear, who feel the pain of Kashmiris, who know the suffering of the people of J&K. Give me such honest leaders, and you will see how they will lead you with dignity,” he said.
He said changing political parties would make little difference unless there was a change in the character of those in leadership positions. He said he would reach out to people across Jammu and Kashmir to build a movement to replace what he called “unworthy” leaders with people of integrity.
Wishing NC president Farooq Abdullah a long life, Ruhullah said he hoped he would live to see the emergence of such leaders. He also accused Farooq Abdullah of betraying public trust.
“The UK passport will not save you now; it won’t help to hold a foreign citizenship. You betrayed the trust of the people,” he said.
Ruhullah said the National Conference had a history of compromising on the dignity and rights of the people. Recalling the party’s appeal to him to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he accused it of using him for its political interests and warned that he would “lay all the dirty linen out in the public” if it went back on its assurances.
Addressing the BJP and RSS, Ruhullah said they would have to uphold India’s secular character to win the trust of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “This country is not the inheritance of the RSS,” he said, alleging that minorities’ rights were being crushed and mosques targeted.
“Make India truly India, if you wish to win the hearts of Jammu and Kashmir. The India that was nurtured by Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians with their sweat and blood,” he said.
He said the people of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh would not compromise on their dignity or constitutional rights, asserting that Jammu and Kashmir would set its own political agenda rather than accept one dictated by the Centre.
“We will fight for our constitutional rights against any power, no matter how strong. We will fight, and we will reclaim our rights,” he said. (With PTI Inputs)
