Ganderbal, Nov 27 (KNO): National Conference (NC) Member of Parliament (MP), Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Thursday said he has neither distanced himself from the party nor planned to form a new one. He, however, criticised the NC for failing to advance key agendas, including Article 370, the Waqf Bill, and reservations.
"The party should not adopt the language of the BJP," Ruhullah said while speaking to reporters during his visit to central Kashmir's Ganderbal district, where he interacted with locals to discuss their issues.
Mehdi reiterated his disagreement with the NC on the reservation issue and promises made during the 2024 Assembly elections. "We made promises to the people that we will fight for the return of protections linked to Article 370. We received votes on that. We cannot switch to a different language after getting that mandate," he said. "I have neither distanced myself from any party nor planned to form any new party. My disagreements with the National Conference are because we have to work on the political agendas for which we sought votes."
The MP Srinagar added, "We cannot speak the language of the BJP. More than a year has passed, but we have not worked on our agenda, have not worked in the name of Article 370, have not worked on the Waqf Bill, have not worked on the issue of reservations."
About the NC's Working Committee meeting, Ruhullah said he was unaware of it. "I don't know which meeting is going on. I'm a permanent member of the Working Committee. This is the first time since 2002 that I have not been invited," he said.
Replying to a query on reports of him flouting a political party, the senior NC leader said he has not distanced himself to build a separate political platform. "I have not kept a distance from any party, nor have I spoken to anyone to form another party," he said.
On the reservation issue, Ruhullah said students are losing opportunities due to delays. "More than a year has passed. If this matter remains unresolved after a month, I will again sit with the students until the issue is settled," he said.
He further said that the failure of mainstream parties to honour public trust would damage the entire political system. "If the party does not follow its own manifesto, it will lose people's trust, and losing trust is the biggest loss," he said.
Mehdi said his political stance is driven by principles and not positions of power, a day after Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary advised him to raise his voice in Parliament and stop seeking the limelight.
Ruhullah said that people who lack discipline, principle, honesty, and loyalty in their politics are not even worthy of a response. “The Deputy CM left the PDP, and yet he advises me about principles and party. My fight is for principles, not for the chair. I have not changed the party and principles for the chair,” he said.
He added, "Two years ago, the Deputy CM was not in the National Conference, and sometimes aligned with the BJP, sometimes with the PDP. Wherever he gets the chair and opportunity, he goes there. Such people have no principles, no values, and no direction in their lives. My politics and my efforts are based on principles and values. That is why, if I have expressed disagreement with the party, it is based on principles, and not for the chair."
The Member Parliament also demanded immediate compensation and a government job for the family of Bilal Ahmad Songoo, the sole breadwinner of his household, who was killed in the recent Delhi blast. He called the incident “a murder of humanity”, saying that people from different religions, including Kashmiri Muslims, lost their lives and that no tragedy should be communalised.
Ruhullah said he has written to the Union Home Minister seeking compensation and jobs for victims’ families in recent incidents and will continue to pursue the matter. He also criticised recent demolition drives, claiming that even those who committed no violations were targeted.
Referring to it as a “bulldozer model”, the MP urged the administration to stop such actions and protect the rights and property of the people—(KNO)