MLA Baigh questions “insensitive timing” of MP Ruhullah’s Remarks

Suhail Khan 

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Srinagar, Jul 15: National Conference leader and MLA Baramulla, Javid Hassan Baigh, on Wednesday strongly criticised Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi for his remarks, questioning the “insensitive timing” of his political statement while the party remains in deep mourning over the demise of veteran leader Dr. Mustafa Kamal.

Strongly disapproving of Mehdi’s remarks, MLA Baigh as per Kashmir Convener said he was “shocked and saddened” by the MP’s comments, which came barely 24 hours after the passing of Dr. Kamal, the younger brother of party president Dr Farooq Abdullah. The family, he noted, has not even completed the three-day customary mourning period.

“I had not seen the video initially. I did not know he would speak so much,” Baigh said here, adding that he felt compelled to respond despite the circumstances. “MP Aga Ruhullah belongs to the same Jama’at where Dr Mustafa Kamal was a senior leader. His family is in mourning. His brother, his partner, his uncle have all passed away. You can understand their condition at this time.”

MLA Baigh asserted that the timing was “a great injustice.” He appealed to all political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir to refrain from targeting the Abdullah family or the National Conference leadership during the mourning period.

“This is why it is not possible that those people who have a high level of morality in politics… at this time, no enemy of Omar Abdullah will raise a finger on this family, this Jama’at, until these three days are completed,” Baigh said.

He further pointed out that the entire National Conference leadership is scheduled to leave for Delhi on July 17 to take on the national government over the issue of statehood and restoration of rights, calling for unity within the party ranks at this critical juncture.

“If Aga Ruhullah had to hold this meeting, he should have at least waited. This family would have completed their mourning, and then you could have said whatever you wanted,” Baigh remarked.

The MLA said that his objection was not to the content of Mehdi’s statement but solely to its timing. He also made it clear that he holds his colleague in high regard and would never speak against him otherwise.

“As long as he is in the National Conference, I will never open my mouth about him. I will always respect him. But what he did today is a great injustice,” Baigh said.

“I did not make this statement because I want to make someone happy. I believe in the presence of Allah, and I say that I made this statement with great responsibility. Even if he had a thousand compulsions, he should have passed it within three days. This is the command of Allah and His Prophet,” he added.

 

Notably, Earlier on Wednesday Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi said he has consistently raised the demand for restoration of constitutional safeguards and protection of the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir “from Parliament to the streets”.

Addressing reporters in Anantnag, Ruhullah said his stand on the issue has remained unchanged since the Assembly and Lok Sabha election campaigns.

“From Parliament to the ground, from Kashmir to Delhi, I have consistently raised the same demand. I have said the same thing before the government in Delhi and before the people in Kashmir,” he said.

The National Conference leader drew a distinction between the demand for restoration of statehood and the restoration of constitutional protections that existed under Article 370.

“Statehood is the BJP’s agenda. The constitutional guarantees and protections that were available under Article 370 are the agenda of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. That is the mandate we received from the people,” he said.

Ruhullah also said individuals from different walks of life should speak up for the rights of the people rather than for “power or any political party”.

“If people have the courage to raise their voice for the rights of the people, they can contribute significantly to society,” he said.