Srinagar, June 4: National Conference (NC) senior leader and Member of Parliament from Srinagar, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, has emphasized that any movement to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and constitutional guarantees must be grounded in consistency and credibility, rather than mere theatrics or optics.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that Mehdi, speaking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), highlighted that the credibility of political leadership is currently being questioned by the public. He stated that the core requirement for a meaningful movement is sustainability and consistency, warning that a lack of these elements would inevitably lead to a perception of theatrics.
Mehdi, who indicated he was not invited to a recent party meeting, outlined that a serious political movement necessitates a clear roadmap and broad outreach, encompassing both Kashmir and the national capital, Delhi. He urged leaders to avoid superficial efforts, advising them to formulate a plan, engage with people across Kashmir, and actively build a movement.
The NC MP also called for proactive engagement with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the creation of momentum both within and outside the Parliament. Drawing a parallel with Ladakh, Mehdi suggested that Kashmir’s political leadership should learn from the region’s united approach to fighting for rights.
He proposed that if all political parties were genuinely committed, they should temporarily set aside their individual political identities and unite on a single platform. This collective democratic and peaceful movement, he argued, would be crucial until the rights revoked in 2019 are reinstated.
Mehdi further expressed his personal willingness to be the first to resign from Parliament if such a unified movement were to materialize, suggesting that representatives should instead be chosen from this common platform rather than through party affiliations until constitutional rights are restored.
He critiqued the tendency of political parties to briefly unite before returning to electoral politics, which he believes dilutes the impact of collective efforts. Mehdi asserted that people would only place their trust in such endeavors if they witnessed genuine sincerity and unwavering consistency from the leadership.
This statement comes in the wake of the National Conference announcing its intention to hold a protest in New Delhi on the first day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session. The protest aims to press for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and constitutional guarantees. The decision was reportedly made during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at Dachigam National Park.
❤️ Support Independent Journalism
Your contribution keeps our reporting free, fearless, and accessible to everyone.
Or make a one-time donation
Secure via Razorpay • 12 monthly payments • Cancel anytime before next cycle
(We don't allow anyone to copy content. For Copyright or Use of Content related questions, visit here.)
The Chenab Times News Desk
