Ruhullah Accuses Leadership of Betraying Voters, Warns NC to ‘Return to Principles’

SRINAGAR: National Conference MP for Srinagar, Agha Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, on Sunday launched a sharp counter to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s claim that he had committed “political suicide” during the Budgam bypoll, asserting that he neither seeks an Assembly seat nor intends to join the Union Territory legislature.

Speaking to reporters and later addressing party workers at his Budgam residence following his return from Germany, Ruhullah said the remark reflected a “smallness of thinking.” “I am not worried about becoming an MLA. His concern is only about how and when to become an MLA. My fight is not about power or Assembly seats,” he said.

Ruhullah said his silence during the bypoll campaign was not aimed at sending a signal to Omar, but was rooted in a refusal to “accept power that goes against the people.” He accused the NC leadership of abandoning commitments made to voters during the 2024 Assembly elections and betraying public trust.

He criticised the conduct of the 40 NC MLAs who, he said, “roamed every lane and bylane of Budgam” during the bypoll campaign, armed with “money power and arrogance,” despite never visiting these areas before. “Nor will they return,” he remarked.

Recalling last year’s campaign, he said the same candidates had pressed him to campaign across the Valley, promising that they would honour every commitment made to the public. “They did not give me even five minutes of rest,” he said. “I told them to keep the promises they were making, so the voters themselves would stand with them.”

Ruhullah said he had expected the 2024 mandate and formation of the present government to strengthen his parliamentary fight on issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir. “But they betrayed the people,” he said, without naming the Chief Minister.

Reacting to Omar Abdullah’s “political suicide” remark, Ruhullah said, “If he can think in those terms, why can he not think about the political, religious and social rights of the people that are being crushed? Our struggle should be for those rights, yet he is still thinking about MLA seats.”

On posters of him displayed during PDP celebrations after Aga Muntazir Mehdi’s win in the Budgam bypoll, he said the people had spoken for themselves. “People of Budgam and Kashmir are aware and thoughtful. Their decision should not be belittled for someone’s political interest,” he said. He reiterated that he neither supported nor opposed any party during the bypoll, leaving the choice entirely to voters.

Ruhullah also commented on the recent Delhi attack and the Nowgam Police Station blast that killed 10 people, expressing solidarity with the bereaved families. He accused the BJP-led central government of failing to prevent repeated terror incidents over the last 11 years, adding that tragedies are often turned into political narratives against Muslims, especially Kashmiri Muslims. “This is your failure; such incidents keep happening repeatedly,” he said.

He argued that those responsible for public safety—“political, administrative and security officials”—should be held accountable.

The MP urged the NC leadership to undertake serious introspection, acknowledge “mistakes” made during the Assembly elections, and return to a disciplined and principled political approach. “There is still time to understand the people and return to the right path. If the party fails to correct its course, I will not hesitate to speak openly,” he warned.