Srinagar: 16 July: In a two-and-a-half hour long interactive session on X, formerly Twitter, Member Parliamentarian from Central Kashmir’s Srinagar hinted at the possibility of forming a new political party.
The X Space interactive session began with a brief introduction of the guest speaker, followed by a series of direct questions posed by the participants. About 300 people from different walks of life took part in the session.
“I nurture no aspirations to become a Chief Minister. I am not working against the J&K National Conference [JKNC] ideology, election mandate and the party manifesto. In fact, the JKNC is betraying the mandate and working against its core ideological stance,” Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi said, adding, “Very soon, I will part ways because the party is going against its ideology, mandate and manifesto”.
Some participants asked MP Mehdi what was wrong in the JKNC’s incremental approach to first ensure the restoration of statehood and then work for the return of special status and Articles 370 and 35A.
Mehdi responded by saying that the promise for the restoration of statehood has been made by the Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP] leadership, the JKNC did not get the mandate to struggle for the restoration of statehood.
Mehdi emphasised on “character and integrity” of individual politicians to bring about a positive change in the region’s political landscape.
“We shouldn’t become prisoners of history or societal psyche,” he said, adding that “only those should join the cause of the people of Jammu and Kashmir who understand the cost of a real political struggle.”
“The JKNC is normalising the changes made on 5 August, 2019. It is fulfilling the BJP’s agenda and has forgotten its own agenda,” the parliamentarian said.
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He warned his party of facing serious consequences for “betraying the mandate”.
“Regardless of the character of political establishment, constitutional guarantees, autonomy and special status permanently secure our demographics, land, resources, culture, jobs and literature,” the outspoken parliamentarian said.
On the other hand, “if we only seek the restoration of statehood, your jobs are not secure. The jobs are being outsourced. Our land is not secure. Our resources are not secure.”
Questions were asked by advocate Aqib, activist Sahil Parray, Sanjay and people belonging to the Muslim, Hindu and Sikh communities.
To stand with the protesting youth, demanding rationalisation of reservation, Mehdi said he risked his own political career and during the recently held Budgam by-election, his home turf, he didn’t campaign for his party.
“Budgam is my political base and home turf. I used the Budgam by-election as leverage at the cost of my political career,” Mehdi said.
The Budgam by-election was won by the People’s Democratic Party [PDP] candidate, Aga Muntazir.
He alleged that “the J&K police ‘kidnapped’ the parents of the protesting youth and activists and raided hostels to scuttle our protest. I was placed under house arrest. Students and their parents were threatened. The authorities ensured that we could not assemble.”
He requested the JKNC top leadership to return to the core agenda and moralistic politics.
“I am not doing anything for myself or chair. Please return to your core agenda and side with the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Mehdi said.
“On the issue of reservation, we can make an immediate impact. We must offer relief to our unemployed young population. We understand that the fight for the restoration of 370 is a long one,” Mehdi added.
Sharing background details, Mehdi said he fought and passionately campaigned for his party colleagues during the 2024 Parliament and J&K Assembly elections, but now he feels “all alone”.
“It is not a fight of one individual. It is a collective fight. I campaigned with passion for my colleagues during the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, but they have left me alone. I thought we’d together gather a bigger force to fight for our legitimate constitutional and political rights”.
He said he has also spoken to the like-minded politicians belonging to different political parties in India, from the Congress to Trinamool Congress, the DMK to RJD.
“We can’t burn all bridges. We have to form alliances with like-minded forces in India. Jammu and Kashmir did not accede to the BJP-RSS idea of India. We acceded after the Congress assured us our constitutional guarantees to safeguard our interests,” he said.
Mehdi further added that the JKNC’s proposed sit-in scheduled for 20 July “is not about challenging the status quo. The JKNC is legitimising 5 August, 2019. It is a betrayal of a kind.”
