Reports on social media claiming Member of Parliament (MP) Aga Ruhullah and several other members of the Jammu Kashmir National Conference will leave the party are baseless, sources told The Kashmiriyat.
The rumours have spread since the reports of the meeting called by Aga Ruhullah Mehdi surfaced in the media. As per reports, Aga Ruhullah has called in a crucial meeting at his residence on April 19. The meeting, as per sources close to the Srinagar MP, will be attended by 27 Block Presidents, Constituency Heads, and Village Presidents to Attend
Sources close to Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, the Srinagar, told The Kashmiriyat that the meeting has been called to discuss the assembly bypolls on the Budgam seat, which has been left vacant after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah quit the seat.
“There is no discussion over anyone quitting. Such reports are malicious and surprising in Kashmir. People are resorting to anything to gain higher viewership. This is ridiculous,” they said.
The rumors were triggered when MP Ruhullah indicated a deepening rift within the party over how to approach the demand for the restoration of Jammu Kashmir’s statehood and constitutional rights. In a public interaction, Ruhullah said he has consistently argued that the central government is unlikely to return anything unless firmly pushed. This, he added, contrasts with the NC’s current strategy of maintaining a cordial political engagement in hopes of regaining lost ground.
“Our disagreement is not about goals — we all want the return of statehood and rights,” Ruhullah said. “But I believe it won’t be achieved by being soft or diplomatic. We need to be assertive in our demands.”
Aga Ruhullah also alluded to a growing sense of isolation within the party ranks, particularly since his appearance at a student-led protest last December that questioned changes to the reservation policy. The demonstration, held outside former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s residence, focused on concerns over a significant cut in the open merit quota.
“The students were anxious about their future, and I went to listen — not to lead or provoke,” he explained. “That has since been misinterpreted by some as disruptive.” He added that his role within the party has shifted since the protest. “There was a time when I was encouraged to contribute to shaping the party’s vision. Today, that space feels increasingly narrow.”
He dismissed speculation that his recent moves were politically motivated. “This is not theatre. It’s about conscience,” Ruhullah said.
Sources told The Kashmiriyat that Aga Ruhullah is unlikely to part ways with the National Conference despite the visible rift over the party’s current approach. They noted that this is not the first time such differences have emerged between Ruhullah and the party leadership.
In 2020, similar disagreements had surfaced, particularly around the NC’s stance post-August 5, 2019. However, party patriarch Farooq Abdullah is said to have intervened personally at the time to reconcile the differences and bring Ruhullah back into the party’s working fold.
The National Conference is yet to comment on his remarks.
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