Srinagar, July 13: National Conference MP Syed Aga Ruhullah on Monday came out strongly against any alleged attempts to destabilise the Omar Abdullah government, asserting that horse-trading would be “against democracy” and the popular mandate.
Speaking to reporters in Shopian, the Srinagar MP said he was “totally against” any monetary inducement to break the government, even as he acknowledged his differences with the party. “No matter how many disagreements I have with the party, I am totally against horse-trading,” Ruhullah said.
He claimed the BJP was making efforts to engineer defections on the basis of money and greed. “People should be left behind and horse-trading should take place, and this government should be broken. I am just as much against it,” he said, insisting the government should be allowed to complete its term.
The MP, who has often aired differences with the party leadership, said any disagreement must be on “principles” and not on the basis of fear or greed of the BJP. “This government should be given the opportunity to fulfill its time. Any horse-trading is against democracy, is against this mandate,” he said.
MP Ruhullah also advised the Chief Minister and other colleagues to introspect over the prevailing political uncertainty. “The Chief Minister only talked about one person. According to me, there are many people who talk, so all of them should look into their pockets, and the Chief Minister should also look into his pockets — why he has come to this position, where people doubt our government,” he said.
He further stated that had the government worked on principles and the mandate, neither the BJP nor the public would have had such doubts. “Whether it is 20 crores or for free, no one should be allowed to do horse-trading,” Ruhullah asserted.
Meanwhile, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti accused the BJP of communalising the legacy of Kashmir’s July 13, 1931 martyrs. “The BJP has made the sacrifice of Kashmiris a question of Hindu-Muslim, Dogra-Kashmiri, Jammu-Kashmir,” Mufti told reporters.
She alleged she was placed under house arrest to prevent her from visiting the Mazar-e-Shuhada at the Naqshband Sahib shrine in Nowhatta. “Yesterday they arrested me, today they have locked me up. This is the injustice of BJP,” she said.
Invoking Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru and Ashfaq-ul-Haq Khan, Mufti said her party respected all martyrs equally. “BJP cannot put dirt on the minds of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” she added.
Authorities had earlier on Monday sealed roads leading to the shrine and deployed police and CRPF personnel across the old city.
The day, a public holiday in J&K until the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, continues to be observed by regional parties.
Eye witnesses told Kashmir Convener that on Monday morning, authorities barricaded the graveyard in Srinagar, and allegedly imposed restrictions on leaders from visiting it.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said such measures belied claims of normalcy in Kashmir.
Senior NC leader and minister Sakina Itoo made an attempt to reach the graveyard around 4:30 am wearing a burqa, apparently to escape security restrictions.
“Due to heavy deployment and extensive barbed-wire barricading around the graves, I was prevented from entering. Physical barriers cannot prevent us from honouring the supreme sacrifices of our martyrs. Their memory, courage, and legacy will forever remain alive in our hearts,” Itoo said.
Kashmir chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also claimed to have been placed under house arrest. “It is painful and unfortunate that the people of J&K are prevented by force from paying homage to the martyrs. All roads leading to the Mazar-e-Shuhada are blocked and barricaded and restrictions imposed around Jama Masjid Srinagar. I was placed under house arrest,” the Mirwaiz said.
He said it was 95 years ago in 1931 that these civilians laid the foundation of the struggle for human rights and dignity in J&K.
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