Srinagar, Nov 03 (JKNS): Hours after Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi announced his resignation from the National Conference and the Lok Sabha, the ruling party launched a sharp counterattack against its former leader, accusing him of “mental and moral bankruptcy”, self-obsession and political theatrics, while questioning his contribution towards the restoration of special status, statehood and protection of reservation rights during his tenure as Srinagar MP.
In a strongly worded statement issued here to news agency JKNS, National Conference said Ruhullah’s speech at Budgam reflected what it described as his self-obsession, alleging that despite invoking the Holy Quran and the message of dignity and respect for human beings, his address contained derogatory, abusive and unparliamentary language against the party leadership.
“The language used by him only reflects who he is,” the party said, adding that his decision to resign over the issues of special status and reservation required a closer examination of his political record.
The NC alleged that Ruhullah remembered to resign only after being asked to do so by the party president, while accusing him of selectively invoking past political events to suit his present political position.
Referring to his political career in 2010, the party said Ruhullah had continued as a minister until he was removed during a general reshuffle. It further pointed out that he contested the 2014 Assembly elections on the National Conference ticket, alleging that he had not raised the same concerns at that time and had brought them up only 16 years later.
Questioning his stand on the restoration of special status, the party recalled that Ruhullah had welcomed the resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on November 6, which called for restoration of special status, and had described it as a promise delivered.
The NC questioned what concrete efforts he had made in Parliament to secure support for the restoration of special status and statehood, asking whether he had attempted to move a resolution or introduce a bill on the issue.
The party also questioned whether Ruhullah had made efforts to mobilise MPs from secular parties to build support for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional status, despite being elected to Parliament to represent the aspirations and sentiments of the people.
Referring to his reported role in gathering signatures of more than 100 MPs for an impeachment motion against Allahabad High Court judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav, the NC asked why similar efforts were not made to mobilise parliamentary support for the restoration of special status and statehood.
The statement further accused Ruhullah of not adequately highlighting in Parliament what it described as the erosion of powers of the elected government under the existing Union Territory arrangement, alleging that departments technically falling under the elected dispensation continued to function under the influence of the Lieutenant Governor.
On the reservation issue, the NC said Ruhullah had initially raised his opposition to the elected government over the alleged injustice faced by candidates belonging to the open merit category.
Acknowledging that the reservation policy had created serious concerns among job aspirants, the party said the issue had been raised by the NC and incorporated into its election manifesto, with a commitment to bring changes.
The party said the NC government subsequently constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee and initiated what it described as the first significant changes in the reservation policy, but alleged that the file had been stalled by the authorities.
It questioned whether Ruhullah had raised the matter in Parliament or sought an explanation from the Centre over the delay in clearing the Cabinet’s recommendations.
The NC also asked whether he had organised any protest against the Lieutenant Governor or demanded justice for open merit candidates during the six-month period between his election to Parliament and the formation of the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir.
It further questioned whether he had highlighted alleged recruitment irregularities, examination-related controversies and concerns that job aspirants from certain regions had been systematically disadvantaged.
Defending its government’s approach towards restoration of rights, the party said it was aware of the limitations imposed by the existing constitutional and administrative arrangement but had carefully charted its roadmap on issues directly connected with the identity and political future of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Our thrust on restoration of statehood is not and will never be at the expense of the special status. If it was so, the first transition of business of this government would not have been the special status. And August 15 of CM would not have reiterated it,” the statement said.
The party maintained that the protection and preservation of Jammu and Kashmir’s identity and constitutional rights remained the foundation of its political ideology, adding that abandoning these principles would mean abandoning the political legacy it had upheld for more than 90 years.
Taking a further swipe at Ruhullah, the NC said reclaiming what had been taken away from Jammu and Kashmir required “deft politics, not theatrics”, adding that political theatrics might attract temporary attention and social media engagement but would not achieve anything substantial for the people.
The party also questioned the timing of Ruhullah’s resignation as MP, saying he should have stepped down a year earlier if his differences with the party were rooted in principles.
It alleged that while remaining associated with the NC, Ruhullah had worked with forces opposed to the party and had contributed to its defeat in the Budgam Assembly by-election.
“Where was his conscience then? Backstabbing the same party he owed his political existence,” the statement said.
Concluding its attack, the NC questioned Ruhullah’s criticism of the organisation after spending nearly 25 years in its ranks, pointing out that he had begun his political career with the party, served as an MLA for three terms, held ministerial office and was elected to the Lok Sabha on its ticket.
The party accused him of finding fault with the organisation despite having built his political career under its banner, further intensifying the political confrontation following his dramatic announcement to quit the NC and resign from Parliament. (JKNS)