Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The National Conference (NC) is facing fresh trouble within its ranks, with six-time MLA Mubarak Gul planning to address the media in Srinagar on Wednesday to announce his future course of action, days after Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi announced that he was quitting the party and the Lok Sabha.
Gul, who represents the Eidgah constituency in Srinagar, is reportedly upset over being denied a ministerial berth in Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s recent Cabinet reshuffle. His supporters have also been protesting in Srinagar over the decision. Gul had earlier served as the Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
advertisement
The developments come amid an escalating public confrontation between Ruhullah and the NC leadership. Ruhullah announced his decision to resign from the party and the Lok Sabha at a rally in Budgam on Tuesday, held to mark the 26th death anniversary of his father, Aga Syed Mehdi, who was assassinated in 2000.
The announcement triggered a sharp response from the NC, which accused Ruhullah of hypocrisy, political opportunism and self-obsession. The party also questioned his contribution to the fight for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and statehood, as well as his role in raising the issue of reservation.
NC ATTACKS RUHULLAH, QUESTIONS HIS ROLE
In a strongly worded statement, the NC accused Ruhullah of betraying the party and described his speech as an example of “mental and moral bankruptcy”.
The party questioned whether he had mobilised MPs, moved a resolution or introduced a Bill in Parliament on the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and statehood.
The NC maintained that the restoration of statehood would never come at the cost of special status, asserting that the region’s identity and constitutional rights remained the foundation of its more than 90-year-old legacy.
It also accused Ruhullah of remembering the 2010 unrest only in 2026, pointing out that he had been part of the government at the time and had served as a minister until a Cabinet reshuffle. The party further said he had contested the 2014 Assembly election on an NC ticket.
On reservation, the party said its subcommittee had initiated work on changes but the file had subsequently been stalled by the authorities. It also alleged that Ruhullah had worked against the NC during the Budgam by-election.
RUHULLAH’S OFFICE HITS BACK AT NC
Ruhullah’s office responded to the party’s attack with a lengthy post on X, accusing the NC leadership of being more angry with a leader questioning its promises than with those responsible for stripping Jammu and Kashmir of its rights.
“What a shameless statement. You have more anger for a man holding you to your promises than for those who stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its rights. Your courage appears only when the questions are directed at you,” the post said.
Rejecting the party’s criticism of Ruhullah’s remarks, his office said the NC president had first invoked the Quran and that Ruhullah had responded to it. It alleged that the party was now angry because his response had exposed its position.
The post also hit back at the NC’s reference to the 2010 unrest, saying Ruhullah had been part of the government at the time and had acknowledged his responsibility. It, however, asked where the same acknowledgement was from the person who had been Chief Minister then.
On Article 370, Ruhullah’s office questioned the NC leadership over its election promise to seek restoration of the provision, asking why it had urged people to vote for the party on that commitment when its position after coming to power was that those who had revoked it would not restore it.
“The BJP was in power when you wrote the manifesto. You knew exactly whom you would be dealing with. What changed after the election, apart from your access to office?” the post asked.
The office also challenged the party’s claims on the reservation issue, saying Ruhullah had stood with students protesting outside the Chief Minister’s residence in December 2024. It alleged that the NC leadership had repeatedly attacked him over his support for the students.
Demanding transparency from the government, the post asked the NC to publish the decision and details of the proposed reservation changes, including when the proposal was submitted and what remained stalled.
“They deserve an answer, not another statement attacking the man standing beside them,” it said.
Rejecting the suggestion that Ruhullah owed his political existence to the NC, his office said the votes and seats belonged to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. It added that he had returned the seat that the party had repeatedly thrown in his face.
The post also took a swipe at the party leadership over its political choices and ended with a personal attack, saying: “As for the narcissist, your British boy should not worry. Tell him to keep his passports ready. We will fund a first-class ticket back to London.”
BJP’S RAM MADHAV WEIGHS IN
The escalating confrontation also drew a reaction from BJP national vice-president Ram Madhav, who said Ruhullah’s rally had the “blessings of our people” and claimed that the NC was visibly divided.
Madhav denied any direct BJP involvement in the dispute, describing it as an internal matter within the National Conference.
The NC responded to his remarks with a post on X, saying: “Now we know why Ruhullah didn’t have one word to say against the BJP.”
The public exchange has exposed growing tensions within the ruling party in Jammu and Kashmir, with Ruhullah’s announcement and Gul’s reported discontent adding to the pressure on the NC leadership.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
