‎Srinagar, Nov 4 (KNS): The National Conference on Wednesday alleged that the BJP had succeeded in pushing Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi out of the party as part of its wider political strategy, with two ruling party legislators accusing the former Srinagar MP of targeting his own leadership while remaining silent on the BJP and PDP.
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‎Addressing a joint press conference, Hazratbal MLA Salman Ali Sagar and Banihal MLA Sajjad Shaheen questioned Ruhullah's decision to quit the National Conference, his parliamentary performance and his allegations that the party had abandoned its commitments on Article 370 and reservation.
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‎“I am very sad to say that BJP has succeeded in getting Aga Ruhullah out,” Sagar said, alleging that the development was part of attempts to weaken the National Conference through what he described as “Operation Lotus”.
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‎He claimed that similar efforts had previously resulted in the departure of senior leaders, including Devender Singh Rana and Surjeet Singh Slathia, from the party.
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‎“Operation Lotus, which is being carried out across India, has now succeeded here through Aga Ruhullah. BJP's agenda has been fulfilled,” Sagar alleged.
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‎The allegations were not accompanied by evidence establishing BJP involvement in Ruhullah's decision.
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‎Referring to remarks attributed to BJP leader Ram Madhav during a press conference in Jammu, Shaheen questioned whether Ruhullah would clarify the BJP leader's reported expression of support for the Budgam gathering.
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‎“Ram Madhav was holding a press conference in Jammu while the rally was taking place in Budgam. The question is whether Aga Sahib will clarify this,” Shaheen said.
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‎Both legislators maintained that the National Conference's political strength was rooted in its public support rather than any individual leader.
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‎“Individuals come and individuals go. The foundation of the National Conference is its people,” Shaheen said.
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‎He condemned the language Ruhullah used against the party leadership during his Budgam address, saying democratic disagreement did not justify personal attacks.
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‎Shaheen said every member of the National Conference had the right to question its leadership or express differences, but maintained that political criticism should remain within the bounds of decency.
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‎Turning to the issues cited by Ruhullah for leaving the party, Shaheen rejected allegations that the National Conference had diluted its position on Article 370 or abandoned the demand for restoration of special status.
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‎He said the party's commitment to autonomy and constitutional safeguards remained unchanged and pointed to the Assembly resolution seeking restoration of special status, which he said Ruhullah had initially welcomed.
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‎Shaheen also defended the government's handling of reservation grievances, saying the National Conference had acknowledged concerns of open merit candidates and included corrective measures in its election manifesto.
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‎He said a cabinet sub-committee had submitted its recommendations and the matter was subsequently referred to the Lieutenant Governor's administration.
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‎Questioning Ruhullah's position, Shaheen asked why he had not raised the delay in implementing the recommendations with the Lieutenant Governor or the Centre.
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‎Sagar, meanwhile, accused Ruhullah of selectively criticising the National Conference while avoiding confrontation with the BJP and PDP.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
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‎He questioned why Ruhullah had not similarly criticised the PDP over its earlier alliance with the BJP, which had brought the latter into government in Jammu and Kashmir.
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‎“He has no problem with the PDP, which formed an alliance with the BJP. His problem is only with the National Conference and the Chief Minister. What kind of ego clash is this?” Sagar asked.
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‎The Hazratbal legislator also rejected Ruhullah's suggestion that the National Conference's electoral success was attributable to his personal influence.
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‎He said party legislators and constituency representatives had actively campaigned for Ruhullah during the 2024 parliamentary elections, helping him secure support across central Kashmir.
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‎“If Aga Sahib was so powerful, why did Omar Sahib lose in north Kashmir, where he campaigned?” Sagar asked, arguing that the electoral mandate belonged to the party and the political sentiment it represented rather than any individual.
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‎He said Ruhullah had been given the Srinagar parliamentary ticket despite the availability of other potential candidates and rejected suggestions that the party leadership had sought to undermine him.
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‎Sagar also questioned why Ruhullah had not attempted to mobilise National Conference legislators for protests or political campaigns on issues he now claimed the party had neglected.
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‎“How many MLAs did he personally call and ask to join protests in their districts?” he asked.
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‎The legislators also criticised Ruhullah's decision to hand over his resignation letter to the father of Tufail Mattoo, who was killed during the 2010 unrest.
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‎Sagar alleged that invoking the victims of the unrest in the present political confrontation was inappropriate, particularly as Ruhullah had himself served as a minister during that period.
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‎He said the National Conference's struggle for Jammu and Kashmir's constitutional rights predated the present controversy and would continue irrespective of individual departures.
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‎“We will never compromise on Article 370, Article 35A and the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
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‎Questioning Ruhullah's nearly 25-year association with the party, Sagar asked why he had continued to serve as an MLA, minister and parliamentarian if he believed the organisation had consistently failed to uphold its political commitments.
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‎The legislators also criticised his performance in Parliament, alleging that he had failed to effectively use the national legislature to highlight Jammu and Kashmir's political concerns.
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‎They referred to his efforts to mobilise support for an impeachment motion against Allahabad High Court judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav, questioning why similar parliamentary initiatives had not been undertaken for the restoration of special status.
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‎Sagar alleged that Ruhullah had failed to adequately represent the concerns of his constituents despite being elected on the National Conference ticket.
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‎“He has not only betrayed his party, but he has betrayed his electorate,” he said.
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‎The press conference came a day after Ruhullah announced his departure from the National Conference at a public gathering in Budgam, accusing the leadership of abandoning its political commitments and failing to pursue the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's constitutional rights.(KNS)
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