Not invited first time since 2002: Ruhullah

Ganderbal, Nov 27: Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah on Thursday said that this was the first time since 2002 that he had not been invited to the National Conference’s Working Committee meeting.

Speaking to reporters during his visit to Tulmulla in Ganderbal district, where he held an interaction with locals to discuss administrative issues, Ruhullah said he had no information about the ongoing Working Committee meeting in Srinagar.

“I am a permanent member of the NC Working Committee meeting. This is the first time since 2002 that I have not been invited to this meeting,” he said.

Ruhullah denied speculations of him launching a new political outfit.

He said his disagreement with the party leadership stemmed from the mandate sought from the public in the 2024 Assembly polls.

“We promised to fight for the return of protections that were taken from us with the abrogation of Article 370. After getting votes on those promises, we cannot use the language of the BJP,” Ruhullah said. “I have not distanced myself from the party, nor have I spoken to anyone to form another party.”

The senior NC leader, who has openly criticised the National Conference’s stand on reservation and the party’s post-election conduct, said NC owes people clarity and consistency on commitments made during the 2024 Assembly campaign.

He also reiterated his stance on the issue of over-aged aspirants in recruitment exams, urging the government to resolve it within a month.

Ruhullah cautioned that failure of mainstream parties to honour their manifestos would erode public faith.

“If the party doesn’t follow its own manifesto, it will lose people’s trust, and losing trust is the biggest loss,” he said.

The Member of Parliament from central Kashmir also dismissed Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary’s recent suggestion that he should raise his voice in the Parliament instead of seeking the limelight, saying his politics is rooted in principles rather than a pursuit of power.

He said that those who lack discipline, honesty, loyalty, and principles in their political conduct were “not even worthy of a response”.

“The Deputy CM left the PDP for the chair, yet he lectures me on principles and party. My fight is for principles, not for the chair. I have not changed my party or my stand for the sake of the chair,” Ruhullah said.

Earlier, he held an interaction with locals and farmers in Tulmulla and discussed administrative issues.

Ruhullah said he had come on the invitation of residents to understand the concerns that needed to be taken up with the authorities.

“If there are issues at the central government level, they will be raised accordingly. If matters are local, they too will be taken up. I came here with that responsibility,” he said.

On the demolition drive in Ganderbal, Ruhullah questioned the absence of local representatives.

“We voted for representatives to protect, defend, and speak for the people. If there were encroachments, the law could have taken its course. But why were elected representatives not on the front?” he said.

Ruhullah said that he would continue to pursue developmental works in his constituency, including the installation of CT scan machines in district hospitals and the widening of key road stretches.

He also visited the house of the Delhi blast victim at Wangath, Kangan, and met the family of the deceased.

He offered his condolences to the victim’s family and assured them that he would raise the issue of a job to the Next of Kin (NoK) and compensation as well.