“If Ladakh Could Fight and Win, Why Couldn’t Kashmir?”: MP Ruhullah Mehdi | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: National Conference Member of Parliament from Srinagar, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, on Saturday described the Centre’s decision to grant constitutional safeguards and legislative protections to Ladakh as a “slap on the face” of the political leadership of Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking to media persons, Ruhullah said the development highlighted the failure of Kashmir’s leadership to secure similar constitutional protections for the region. He said that if the leadership of a “small region like Ladakh” could successfully fight the Government of India and secure its rights, there was no justification for Kashmir’s leadership not doing the same.

“This is a slap on the face of the leadership of Kashmir. If the leadership of a small region like Ladakh can fight against the Government of India and get their rights, then there is no reason why the leadership of Kashmir could not do so,” he said.

He added that the people of Ladakh had demonstrated that rights could only be secured through sustained political struggle and consistent resistance.

Reacting to BJP leader Sunil Sharma’s remarks describing Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as “missing”, Ruhullah said that if the BJP wished to file a missing report, it was free to do so, adding that people should also know his whereabouts.

Commenting on the issue of alleged demolition drives and land retrieval, the Srinagar MP said there should be no “bulldozer justice” and stressed that all matters relating to land disputes or ownership must be resolved strictly through legal and judicial processes.

“There should be nothing beyond the court and the law. Whether it is demolition, acquisition or retrieval of land, due legal process must be followed. Muslims and non-Muslims should be treated equally under the law,” he said.

Ruhullah said that if valid land ownership documents existed and could be established in a court of law, they should not be disregarded arbitrarily. He reiterated that laws must be implemented uniformly across India and Jammu and Kashmir without selectively targeting any particular community.