Srinagar: Estranged National Conference (NC) Lok Sabha member, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, said on Tuesday that he will join the party protest at Jantar Mantar, but asserted that the restoration of the Constitution’s Article 370 must remain the core issue of that protest.
Speaking to reporters in J&K’s Pulwama, Aga Ruhullah noted he would definitely participate in the protest, but stressed that the struggle should not be confined to a one-day political event.
He called for a sustained and organised movement, arguing that the demand must go beyond statehood to include restoration of constitutional protections that existed before 2019.
He said a single protest would not suffice and underlined the need for a continuous political campaign reflecting broader concerns, including rights and protections of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The MP also flagged issues faced by the younger generation in the post-2019 period, saying justice is essential for lasting peace.
Raising concerns over land rights, jobs and reservation policies, he alleged that locals were being deprived of their due share. Citing examples from rural areas, including Pulwama, he said restrictions affecting agriculture and livelihoods point to alleged systemic injustice.
Ruhullah Mehdi said key political and administrative commitments remain unfulfilled and added that while improved governance could ease tensions, unresolved issues continue to fuel public dissatisfaction.
Reiterating his stand, he said “permanent peace” can only be achieved through “justice”, not symbolic measures.
Aga Ruhullah Mehdi has been estranged from the party leadership by alleging that the NC has not done enough to fulfil the promises made to the people in its election manifesto that brought the party to power in 2024.
NC leadership has not been inviting Aga Ruhullah Mehdi to its meetings, and the MP has also been maintaining a distance from party affairs.
(IANS)
