Srinagar Member of Parliament and Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) leader Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has penned an open letter to party president Dr. Farooq Abdullah, expressing dissent over the party’s current stance regarding the restoration of Article 370. Mehdi questioned the party’s leadership position on regaining the special constitutional status, which was abrogated by the central government on August 5, 2019.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that in a letter dated August 28, 2026, Mehdi addressed remarks made by the party leadership on August 25. He referred to statements that questioned how long people would be “a slave” and urged them to “stand on their feet.” Mehdi stated that these remarks resonated with the widespread frustration in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the perception that the region’s demands were being pursued from a position of supplication before the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre.
Mehdi further articulated his disagreement with the notion that the demand for the restoration of Article 370 was an unreasonable political position. He highlighted that the restoration of Article 370 was included in the BJP’s 2024 Assembly election manifesto, and the Supreme Court had acknowledged the constitutional history surrounding the provision. He argued that the JKNC’s current position should not be fundamentally different from its previous stance.
The Srinagar MP also raised concerns that accepting statehood as the ultimate political aspiration for Jammu and Kashmir could inadvertently legitimize the constitutional changes enacted in August 2019. Mehdi pointed out that the party had initially committed to the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A but was now increasingly prioritizing statehood as the primary political objective. He questioned whether the argument that “the very regime which abrogated Article 370 will never restore it” was a sufficient reason to abandon the larger demand.
He emphasized that the issue transcended political positioning, touching upon the dignity, constitutional guarantees, and fundamental rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Mehdi also touched upon broader concerns related to employment opportunities, land rights, natural resources, religious freedoms, cultural traditions, language, and environmental protection, noting the significant anxieties among the region’s large young population regarding employment and future prospects.
“Our job as elected representatives is to fight this constant degradation and dehumanisation – and not to adjust our aspirations to what the BJP is willing to concede,” Mehdi stated. He asserted that elected representatives bear the responsibility to prevent the political and constitutional alterations of August 2019 from becoming the “new political normal.” He reiterated that the restoration of statehood should not be presented as an adequate substitute for the constitutional provisions and safeguards that were altered.
Mehdi stressed the continuing need to advocate for constitutional guarantees for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, including protections for their land, resources, culture, and traditions. He questioned why his perspective on these matters was considered objectionable within the JKNC, reminding the party leadership of its past role, including when the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly passed the Autonomy Resolution. He queried what had changed – the aspirations of the people or the party’s willingness to champion them.
The MP clarified that he raised these issues not out of disrespect but due to his recollection of the leadership’s earlier political positions and their efforts to secure greater constitutional autonomy for the region. Mehdi indicated that he has more questions but will await a response from the party leadership. He also stated that the people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve clarity on the JKNC’s true stance regarding constitutional guarantees and the region’s political future.
Furthermore, Mehdi stated his intention to resign from the party, indicating that he would have done so even without being asked, but insisted that accountability must precede his departure. The letter also addressed what Mehdi described as a “disrespectful attack” against him, suggesting that the internal disagreements had escalated beyond a policy dispute into a broader political confrontation within the party. The letter underscores the growing divergence within the JKNC on whether the restoration of statehood should remain the paramount immediate objective or if the demands for restoring Article 370 and other constitutional safeguards should continue to be central to the party’s political agenda.
The Chenab Times News Desk