Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi accuses his party of undermining the public mandate in Jammu and Kashmir, questioning the effectiveness of repeated resolutions on statehood and demanding accountability.
SRINAGAR — National Conference (NC) Member of Parliament Aga Ruhullah Mehdi on Tuesday launched a sharp critique against his own party leadership, accusing it of diluting the public mandate secured in the recent Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections and questioning its strategy regarding the restoration of statehood.
Addressing reporters and public concerns, Ruhullah stated that the electorate voted for the National Conference to fight for the reversal of the constitutional and political changes implemented on August 5, 2019.
“We gave assurances, hope, and promises to the public that we would fight no other battle except for the return of our constitutional rights,” Ruhullah said.
The Srinagar MP questioned the shifting stance on assembly resolutions, criticizing the introduction of multiple revisions.
“First a resolution, then another to weaken it, and then a third to amend that—this is a mockery of the people of Kashmir,” he said. He asked why the party sought votes from the public if there was a lack of clarity regarding its primary legislative objectives. He warned that compromising the public mandate through political expediency would not be forgiven by the public.
Turning to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Ruhullah described alleged manipulation of votes as the most severe form of theft, noting that the ballot remains a fundamental tool for citizens to effect political change.
“When your vote itself is stolen, how do you bring about reform?” he asked.
In addition to domestic political concerns, Ruhullah called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the credibility and integrity of the Election Commission of India have been severely compromised.
“I do not believe he has any moral justification to remain in this post,” Ruhullah said, while calling for a comprehensive restructuring of the election body to ensure free and fair democratic processes.