Pulwama, Nov 21: Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Friday said he has held no meeting with any non-NC MLA or leader and dismissed ongoing political chatter as mere media speculation. Speaking to reporters during his visit to Haripari Tral to condole with the family of the Crime Branch photographer who died in the Nowgam police station blast, Ruhullah said political discourse must avoid personal attacks and ego-driven narratives.
Without naming Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the MP said that leaders must shun ego and refrain from going personal. He added that some lower-rung political functionaries have been using the language associated with the BJP while attacking him, apparently to appease their senior leaders.
Ruhullah said that in the 2024 elections, people voted for them on the basis of trust, and those who now target him should reflect on whether they have used the same tone and language while speaking against the BJP or while opposing injustices and defending the rights of the people.
The MP said that linking the issue of Article 370 with militancy was a flawed narrative propagated to justify the abrogation. He said militancy continues even after the constitutional change, and that the country’s value system has weakened over time, with minorities increasingly treated as second-class citizens. He added that while all communities have suffered violence, people in Jammu and Kashmir once felt empowered under Article 370 but now feel disempowered and stressed the need for democratic empowerment of the population.
Ruhullah also voiced concern over incidents of fringe elements targeting Kashmiris outside the Valley and urged the government to ensure their safety.
On the Nowgam police station blast, the MP said there must be a thorough investigation into the lapses that led to the tragedy. He said professionals should have been handling the seized explosive material, but instead individuals like a tailor and a naib tehsildar were present at the site. Ruhullah said accountability is essential and that if the blast involved more than an accidental trigger, the investigation should identify responsibility. He demanded adequate compensation and jobs for the families of the victims. [KNT]
