Budgam: Srinagar Lok Sabha MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Tuesday announced his decision to part ways with the National Conference (NC), declaring, “I set myself free from the NC,” while launching a sharp attack on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over the party’s handling of its electoral promises, particularly the demand for restoration of Article 370.
Ruhullah asked Muhammad Ashraf Mattoo, father of Tutail Mattoo, who was killed in 2010 in an incident involving alleged police firing during Omar Abdullah’s tenure as Chief Minister, to hand over his resignation letter to NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah.
Addressing a large public gathering at Behishti Zehra Park in Budgam on the 26th death anniversary of his father, Aga Syed Mehdi, Ruhullah said he was walking away from the party on ideological grounds and would not compromise his principles for political power.
The announcement marks the end of Ruhullah’s nearly 24-year association with the National Conference, a party he had represented in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and Parliament.
Targets Omar Abdullah Over Article 370
In his address, Ruhullah directly confronted Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over what he described as a shift in the party’s position on Article 370 after securing power in the 2024 Assembly elections.
He questioned why the National Conference had failed to pursue the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status with the same determination that it had displayed during the election campaign.
“Your mandate was against the BJP, but you later changed the goalpost, saying those who took away Article 370 would not restore it,” Ruhullah said.
Invoking religious teachings, he urged Omar Abdullah to stand up for the rights of the people rather than expressing apprehensions about the BJP.
“The Quran teaches us to speak up for our rights and trust in God. Why are you afraid of the BJP? People voted for you to fight for their rights. Have the courage to stand up and trust God instead of asking people to fear the BJP,” he said.
Ruhullah’s criticism comes against the backdrop of his prolonged differences with the NC leadership over Article 370, reservation policies, constitutional safeguards and the release of prisoners.
‘We are throwing away a chair, and we are happy’
Taking another apparent swipe at Omar Abdullah, Ruhullah spoke about his decision to give up political positions, saying that relinquishing power did not make him unhappy.
He remarked that while people often become distressed after losing positions of authority, his decision to walk away from the political establishment was different.
“People who lose chairs get unhappy, but here we are throwing away a chair, and we are happy,” he said.
Addressing Omar Abdullah directly, he added, “If you want to see what real respect looks like, come to Budgam.”
Ruhullah also said he had not compromised his dignity or self-respect for political office.
He said he prayed that he would never find himself in a position where he had to surrender his dignity or bow before people merely to retain power.
“I pray to God that I never become dependent to throw my hat for power,” he said.
Background to Ruhullah’s exit
Ruhullah’s departure follows months of public disagreements with the National Conference leadership, particularly over what he alleges was the party’s failure to honour commitments made during the 2024 Assembly elections.
The restoration of Article 370, protection of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional rights, changes to reservation policies and the release of prisoners have remained among his principal concerns.
Ruhullah had emerged as one of the NC’s prominent campaigners during the 2024 Assembly elections. He subsequently won the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency with 3,56,866 votes, defeating PDP candidate Waheed-ur-Rehman Para by 1,88,416 votes.
His differences with the party leadership became increasingly visible after the NC formed the government under Omar Abdullah.
Ruhullah has maintained that his opposition is ideological rather than personal, insisting that the party must remain accountable for the promises on which it sought votes.
His decision to quit the NC now raises questions about his future political course and the possibility of a fresh electoral contest in the Srinagar parliamentary constituency.
The announcement also comes at a time when the National Conference is facing internal dissent following its recent Cabinet expansion, with differences emerging among sections of its legislators over the distribution of positions and the government’s political direction.
