SRINAGAR: Member of Parliament Aga Ruhullah Mehdi asserted on Wednesday that the paramount aspiration of the people of Jammu and Kashmir is the restoration of constitutional safeguards, a demand that he stated extends beyond the mere restoration of statehood.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the Srinagar Lok Sabha member articulated this position during an address to the public in Bijbehara. He reiterated that his stance on the issue has been consistent, having been a central theme during election campaigns for both the Assembly and Parliament, and has been consistently raised in various forums, including Parliament and public engagements across Jammu and Kashmir.
“I have conveyed the same message everywhere—from Parliament to the people in Kashmir and before the government in Delhi. My stand has remained consistent,” Ruhullah stated, emphasizing the unwavering nature of his message.
The MP drew a clear distinction between the central government’s commitment to restoring statehood and the populace’s demand for the reinstatement of constitutional protections that were in place prior to August 5, 2019. He highlighted that while statehood is framed as an agenda by the Bharatiya Janata Party, the restoration of constitutional guarantees and protections under Article 370 represents the agenda of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. This, he explained, was the mandate upon which the National Conference sought and secured votes.
Ruhullah further elaborated that the electoral mandate received by the National Conference was fundamentally rooted in safeguarding the political and constitutional rights of the people, rather than simply seeking a return to a previous administrative status. He underscored that the promise of protecting these rights formed the core of their electoral appeal.
He also issued an appeal to civil society members, intellectuals, and citizens, urging them to amplify their voices on matters that impact public rights. Ruhullah advised against aligning with political power or partisan interests, suggesting that true contribution to society comes from those who advocate for the rights of the people independently of power dynamics or political affiliations.
“Those who speak for the rights of the people, rather than for power or political parties, make the greatest contribution to society,” he remarked, advocating for principled advocacy.
These remarks come at a time when political discourse surrounding the constitutional future of Jammu and Kashmir continues. While the Union government has indicated that statehood will be restored at an opportune moment, regional parties, including the National Conference, persist in their demand for the restoration of the constitutional safeguards that existed before the abrogation of Article 370 and the subsequent reorganization of the former state in August 2019.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
