Suhail Khan
Srinagar, Nov 4: A day after Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi announced his departure from the National Conference, the party on Wednesday accused the BJP of playing a role in his exit, with senior NC leader Salman Ali Sagar alleging that the saffron party had succeeded in its efforts to weaken the ruling party in Jammu and Kashmir.
“BJP has succeeded in getting Aga Ruhullah out,” Sagar said at a joint press conference with Banihal MLA Sajjad Shaheen in Srinagar. He described the development as part of what he called “Operation Lotus”, alleging that the BJP had been attempting to weaken the National Conference by engineering defections.
Sagar cited the exits of former NC leaders Devender Singh Rana and Surjeet Singh Slathia as earlier instances of what he described as similar efforts. However, the legislators did not provide evidence to substantiate their allegation of BJP involvement in Ruhullah’s decision.
The press conference reflected the growing political confrontation within the National Conference following Ruhullah’s announcement at a public gathering in Budgam on Tuesday that he was leaving the party. The former Srinagar MP had accused the NC leadership of abandoning its commitments on Article 370, restoration of special status and reservation.
The two legislators sought to turn the criticism back on Ruhullah, questioning why he had targeted the NC leadership while, according to them, remaining silent on the BJP and the PDP.
“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.
Shaheen questioned Ruhullah’s position on remarks attributed to BJP leader Ram Madhav, who had reportedly expressed support for the gathering in Budgam.
“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,” he said.
Rejecting Ruhullah’s charge that the NC had diluted its position on Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional status, Shaheen referred to the Assembly resolution seeking restoration of special status. He said the party’s commitment to autonomy and constitutional safeguards remained unchanged and pointed out that Ruhullah had initially welcomed the resolution.
On reservation, Shaheen said the government had acknowledged concerns raised by open-merit candidates and incorporated corrective measures in its election manifesto. A Cabinet sub-committee had submitted its recommendations, following which the matter was referred to the Lieutenant Governor’s administration, he said.
Questioning Ruhullah’s criticism of the delay in implementing the recommendations, Shaheen asked why he had not taken up the matter with the Lieutenant Governor or the Centre.
Sagar also challenged the suggestion that Ruhullah’s personal influence had been central to the party’s electoral success. He said NC legislators and workers had campaigned for him during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when he contested from Srinagar.
The party had chosen Ruhullah as its parliamentary candidate despite the availability of other potential candidates, Sagar said.
“If Aga Sahib was so powerful, why did Omar Sahib lose in north Kashmir, where he campaigned?” he asked, arguing that electoral mandates were secured through collective party efforts.
The legislators also questioned Ruhullah’s performance in Parliament, alleging that he had not done enough to raise issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir’s political rights and the restoration of special status.
They referred to his efforts to mobilise support for an impeachment motion against Allahabad High Court judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav, asking why he had not pursued similar initiatives on issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir.
Sagar further accused Ruhullah of failing to adequately represent his constituents despite being elected on the NC ticket.
“He has not only betrayed his party, but he has betrayed his electorate,” he said.
The legislators also objected to Ruhullah handing over his resignation letter to the father of Tufail Mattoo, who was killed during the 2010 unrest. Sagar questioned the invocation of the victims of the unrest in the current political confrontation, noting that Ruhullah had himself served as a minister during that period.
The NC leaders maintained that the party’s political struggle for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional rights would continue despite Ruhullah’s departure.
“We will never compromise on Article 370, Article 35A and the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Sagar said.
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