Srinagar, Oct 21: Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has said he will look for people who share his political principles and commitment to Jammu and Kashmir’s rights after his planned departure from the National Conference on November 3, keeping open the possibility of an alternative political platform.
In an exclusive interview with (KNS), Ruhullah said he would return to the people after November 3 and explore whether individuals committed to the same political objectives could come together to carry forward the struggle for Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional rights.
Asked whether he would form a new party after leaving the National Conference, Ruhullah said the decision scheduled for November 3 would come first.
“After that, we will see. We will go to the people as we did before,” he said.
He said he would look for people with principles and character who were prepared to take responsibility for Kashmir and fight for its rights.
Ruhullah said his search would be for people who believed in the same political objectives rather than those seeking positions in government.
He said discussions about the future political course were continuing, but did not confirm whether he would establish a new party, join an existing organisation or pursue another political arrangement.
The Srinagar MP said the people he wanted to work with were not necessarily MLAs, ministers or established political figures.
He referred to people working in fields, studying in educational institutions, practising medicine, running businesses or even being in jail as examples of those who could become part of a political struggle based on principles.
Ruhullah said his political objective remained challenging the decisions taken on Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019.
He said he had expected the National Conference to pursue that objective through the elected Assembly, but the party’s approach to the restoration of constitutional rights had changed after it came to power.
Referring to the Assembly resolution on special status and the subsequent emphasis on statehood, Ruhullah questioned whether the National Conference was strengthening its original demand or weakening it.
He said the Chief Minister had himself clarified that the resolution was intended to seek statehood.
According to Ruhullah, the clarification removed any confusion about whether the government was seeking restoration of the constitutional position that existed before August 5, 2019.
He questioned why another resolution was needed when the party had already passed one concerning Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional rights.
“If they believe in the earlier resolution, why do they want to dilute the same resolution by bringing a second resolution?” he asked.
Ruhullah said the National Conference had sought votes during the Assembly elections on the promise of challenging the decisions of 2019.
He recalled that the party had warned voters that if the BJP or its allies secured a majority, they would bring a statehood resolution and thereby weaken the demand for restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s earlier constitutional position.
He said the National Conference was now following the same course it had warned people against during the election campaign.
Ruhullah also referred to the BJP’s protests against the earlier Assembly resolution, saying those protests did not change the fact that the Chief Minister subsequently described its purpose as seeking statehood.
He said passing a resolution in the Assembly was different from pursuing the political objective for which people had voted.
The MP questioned the public significance of the resolution, saying it had not generated sustained discussion or confidence among people.
“Does anyone remember this resolution?” he asked, saying people had treated it as a political exercise that failed to advance the promised demand.
Ruhullah said even National Conference workers at the grassroots level lacked clarity about the government’s position.
He questioned why party workers and representatives were not raising questions about the difference between the promises made during elections and the resolutions brought after forming the government.
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