Srinagar, October 31 (JKNS): National Conference Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Saturday announced that he would resign on November 3, the martyrdom anniversary of his father, asserting that his fight is based on principles and should not be linked with the recent meeting and resentment of party MLAs.
Speaking to reporters, as per news agency JKNS, Ruhullah said his fight was neither for any position nor for a political chair but against what he described as the party’s U-turn on promises made during elections, including commitments concerning Article 370, constitutional rights, reservation, release of prisoners and other issues.
“Those who used to tell me not to speak against the party are themselves taking out torch marches and raising slogans against their own leadership for personal grudges because they did not get posts. My path is different,” he said.
Clarifying his position on the recent developments within the National Conference, Ruhullah said he did not support horse-trading and wanted the NC-led government to complete its full five-year term. He asserted that no government should be destabilised or toppled through horse-trading.
“If MLAs had to be angry, it should have been for principles, for Article 370, for reservation, for prisoners, for promises. They could have taken out torch marches and shrouded marches for that, but they took it out for themselves,” he said.
Explaining his decision to resign, the MP said that, morally and legally, after resigning from a political party, one should also relinquish the party symbol.
Referring to National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah’s recent remarks, Ruhullah said that the party leadership’s position on Article 370 had left him with no clarity about its commitment to the issue.
“When the party President himself says in the same interview where he asked for my resignation that if Aga thinks 370 can come back then go and bring it, it means Farooq Abdullah does not want to fight for 370. NC does not want to fight for 370 anymore. Why should I hold that chair and fight with confusion where during elections party says one thing and after elections says another, and if you act on it you are branded as BJP agent,” he said.
Ruhullah further said that neither had the party approached him nor did he have any expectations of being approached. He maintained that his demand was for the leadership to make sacrifices and stand firmly for the rights of Muslims, Kashmiris, people of Jammu, Dogra Hindus and Sikhs.
He said the platform of Parliament had provided him an opportunity to raise and amplify the issues concerning Kashmir and Jammu and Kashmir, adding that if people wanted, the platform would again be used with clarity rather than confusion and deception.
“Even if we have to bear loss for the time being, we will bear it,” he added. (JKNS)
