Srinagar, Nov 04: A day after Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi announced his exit from the National Conference, the party on Wednesday launched a scathing counterattack, with MLA Salman Ali Sagar claiming that BJP has succeeded in its “Operation Lotus” by pushing the Srinagar MP out of the party.
Questioning Ruhullah’s decision to walk away instead of resolving differences within the organisation, Salman, said the NC’s strength did not depend on any individual, as Banihal MLA Sajad Shaheen also accused the MP of betraying the party and the electorate that had elected him.
Addressing a joint press conference at Nawai Subah, party headquarters, the duo said Ruhullah had every democratic right to question the party leadership, express disagreement and take independent decisions, but should have raised his grievances through the party’s internal forums.
MLA Salman Sagar said the National Conference is a democratic organisation where every member had the right to speak and raise questions. He termed the language used by Ruhullah against the party leadership unfortunate, saying political differences should be expressed within the bounds of dignity and decorum.
“I feel the BJP has succeeded in its Operation Lotus, particularly in pushing Aga Ruhullah Sahib out of the National Conference,” he said.
MLA Salman said the BJP had been attempting to weaken the National Conference for years and the latest developments had served its political interests in Kashmir.
Referring to BJP’s earlier political gains in Jammu, he cited the exits of former NC leaders, including late Devender Singh Rana and Surjit Singh Salathia, saying the BJP had now succeeded in getting Ruhullah out of the party as well.
He said the developments needed to be viewed in the wider political context of attempts to weaken the National Conference and its political influence in Jammu and Kashmir.
Questioning Ruhullah’s engagement with the party, Salman said the MP had not regularly visited the party headquarters or made sufficient efforts to reach out to party legislators and other stakeholders. He also asked how many times Ruhullah had personally approached MLAs to discuss his grievances or mobilise them on issues concerning the party and the people.
Salman said differences could have been resolved through dialogue, adding that the party leadership had expected him to engage with its elected representatives rather than take such a major decision.
Rejecting suggestions that Ruhullah’s departure reflected any weakness within the NC, Salman said the party’s strength rested on its collective leadership, political ideology and the mandate given by the people, rather than any individual.
Shaheen also questioned why Ruhullah had chosen to target the National Conference leadership while remaining comparatively silent on other political parties, particularly the PDP, which he accused of having facilitated the BJP’s entry into the erstwhile state through its alliance.
He said the National Conference had never compromised on its political position on Articles 370 and 35A and would continue its struggle for the restoration of the rights and special status of Jammu and Kashmir.