Salman Sagar Blames BJP’s ‘Operation Lotus’ for Ruhullah’s Exit from National Conference

SRINAGAR – A senior leader of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), Salman Ali Sagar, has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating an “Operation Lotus” that led to the departure of Srinagar Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi from the party. Sagar, addressing a press conference alongside Banihal MLA Sajad Shaheen at the party headquarters in Srinagar, stated that while Ruhullah was entitled to question the party leadership, his grievances should have been addressed through internal party mechanisms.

“I feel the BJP has succeeded in its Operation Lotus, particularly in pushing Aga Ruhullah Sahib out of the National Conference,” Sagar remarked. He further alleged that the BJP had been persistently attempting to weaken the JKNC, and that the recent developments surrounding Ruhullah’s resignation served the BJP’s political interests in Jammu and Kashmir. Sagar described the MP’s departure as unfortunate for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The JKNC MLA criticized Ruhullah’s public language against the party leadership, deeming it “unfortunate.” Sagar also questioned Ruhullah’s level of engagement with the party organization, noting that the MP had not regularly visited party headquarters or attended meetings. He suggested that Ruhullah should have consulted with party MLAs and other stakeholders before making such a significant decision. Sagar maintained that differences within the party could have been resolved through dialogue and questioned whether Ruhullah had made sufficient efforts to communicate with elected representatives before his departure.

Rejecting any suggestion that the episode reflected a crisis within the JKNC, Sagar asserted that the party’s strength lies in its collective leadership and the mandate given by the people, rather than any single individual. He emphasized that the people had elected the National Conference to prevent the political disempowerment of a community, not based on any one leader. The party’s stance on Articles 370 and 35A, Sagar added, remained unchanged and should not be linked to individual leadership differences.

Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi had announced his resignation from both the National Conference and his Lok Sabha seat on November 3, 2026. He cited ideological disagreements with the party leadership, particularly concerning the approach to restoring the rights of Jammu and Kashmir, as the primary reason for his departure. Mehdi stated that the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in 2019 was a significant blow to the region’s rights, history, and political identity. He had expected the National Conference to lead a sustained struggle for the restoration of these rights. However, he alleged that after securing a mandate in the 2024 Assembly elections, the party shifted its focus to governance instead of pursuing the promised political struggle.

Mehdi announced his resignation during a rally in Budgam on the 26th death anniversary of his father, Aga Syed Mehdi. In his resignation letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Mehdi tendered his resignation as the Member of Parliament representing the Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency. He had previously criticized the party leadership for “drifting away from the core ideology of the party” and for betraying commitments made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Ruhullah’s departure has sparked considerable political discussion in Jammu and Kashmir, with allegations of broader political maneuvering in the region. The National Conference, a prominent political force in the region, faces the challenge of internal dissent alongside external political pressures.

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