SRINAGAR: National Conference Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has categorically dismissed speculation surrounding the potential formation of a new political party, stating that media interest in such a development appears to exceed his own.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that when speaking to reporters in Budgam on Tuesday, Ruhullah Mehdi clarified that he has not yet formed any new party. He remarked that the media seemed more eager than him to establish a new political entity and humorously suggested he might consider joining it if it proved to be a commendable party.
Addressing the National Conference’s planned protest at Jantar Mantar, Mehdi reiterated his decision not to participate. He emphasized that the public mandate received was for the restoration of Article 370, rather than solely for the re-establishment of statehood. According to details received by The Chenab Times, he stated, “I have made it clear that I am not joining the protest. Our responsibility is to fight for Article 370 because it is linked to our identity and dignity. People gave us the mandate for Article 370, not for statehood.”
Mehdi alleged that shifting the political discourse exclusively towards demanding statehood served the agenda of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He asserted that focusing solely on statehood allowed for other significant issues to be overlooked. “It is the BJP’s agenda that we forget everything else and demand only statehood. The last 70 years have shown that whatever has been snatched from us has never been returned. If we fail to learn from history, it will not be good,” he added.
In response to questions regarding alleged horse-trading and attempts by the BJP to engineer defections within the National Conference, Mehdi stated that such practices have no place in a democratic system, regardless of the political party involved. He expressed strong opposition to horse-trading in any form, highlighting that the BJP has, in his view, normalized this practice, thereby undermining the people’s mandate and posing a danger to the democratic fabric of the nation.
The Chenab Times News Desk