Ruhullah quits National Conference, accuses Omar Abdullah of betraying people of Kashmir

National Conference (NC) MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi declared that he had severed allegiance to the party and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accusing him of betraying the people of Kashmir, as, instead of raising the issues of daily wagers, students and young people facing incarceration, he had prioritised matters relating to his personal interests.

Making the announcement at a public gathering at Behisht-e-Zehra Park in Budgam, on the 26th death anniversary of his father, Aga Syed Mehdi, Ruhullah said he was breaking free from the party, whose leadership, he alleged, had abandoned the commitments made to the people during the election campaign.

“I represent the legacy of a martyr and a halal bloodline. I am signing the document of my freedom. From 2:40 pm today, I am no longer part of the JKNC,” he declared.

Ruhullah, who has emerged as a prominent voice against Hindutva politics and the Narendra Modi government, accused Omar of repeatedly refusing to address the grievances of different sections of society, despite appeals for his intervention.

Recalling the demands of daily wagers and students, he said the Chief Minister had responded dismissively when they sought his intervention, while young people languishing in prisons had received little attention. He further alleged that Omar had approached Union Home Minister Amit Shah to secure approval for his adviser’s file rather than raise the plight of incarcerated youth.

“You have forgotten the cap you placed before the people to seek votes. You have forgotten the promise of 200 units of electricity. Your focus is now on getting vehicles,” he said.

Taking a personal swipe at the Chief Minister, Ruhullah told former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah that his son was “beqaarat” (unworthy), not the Kashmiri qaum.

He maintained that his differences with the NC leadership stemmed from unfulfilled political commitments, particularly the restoration of Article 370, protection of constitutional rights, resolution of the reservation issue and release of prisoners, rather than any personal disappointment over being denied a position.

Ruhullah said he intended to build a platform bringing together committed young people from Jammu and Kashmir, urging parents to encourage their children to participate in efforts to transform society.

A Shia cleric from Budgam, Ruhullah, 48, is the son of Aga Syed Mehdi Mustafa, a prominent religious and political leader who was assassinated in a militant attack in November 2000. He had increasingly distanced himself from the NC leadership over its handling of political and public concerns following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.