Aga Ruhullah Quits NC, Launches Attack on Farooq, Omar Abdullah

Farooq Abdullah, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, heads the National Conference, while his son Omar Abdullah is the incumbent chief minister of the Union Territory.

Ruhullah announced his resignation at a rally in Budgam marking the 26th death anniversary of his father, Aga Syed Mehdi. Soon after making the announcement, he also sent his resignation from the Lok Sabha to Speaker Om Birla.

The MP, who was elected on an NC ticket in 2024, also hinted at forming a new political outfit in Jammu and Kashmir during an 80-minute speech to his supporters.

In a show of strength, the influential Shia leader launched a sharp attack on Farooq and Omar Abdullah, accusing the party leadership of abandoning the fight to restore Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir before its abrogation in 2019.

"All the posturing during elections about restoring Article 370, releasing prisoners and providing free electricity were just lies. And I cannot continue to be a part of these lies anymore," Ruhullah said. He described his resignation from the party as a "decree of freedom".

'Betrayal of people's expectations'

Ruhullah handed his resignation letter to Mohammad Ashraf Mattoo, father of teenager Tufail Mattoo, who was killed during security forces' action against protesters in early 2010, requesting him to forward it to Farooq Abdullah.

Tufail's death had triggered massive protests against the then government headed by Omar Abdullah, in which Ruhullah was a Cabinet minister.

"This is a charter of freedom. I will not send this (resignation) to Farooq Abdullah. They do not have the standing or worth for me to send it to them. This is a message of freedom from this deceitful, corrupt organisation. I am handing this resignation over to Mohammad Ashraf Mattoo Sahab. I request him to forward this resignation with his own hands," Ruhullah said amid loud applause from his supporters.

Referring to Omar Abdullah, the Lok Sabha member called him an "incompetent" politician with no connection to ground realities.

"You made promises to people but did not keep them. You were only interested in power. Before elections, you went begging for votes. After coming to power, you said on the floor of the assembly that you regret making an election manifesto which is making you accountable now," he said.

Ruhullah further accused the chief minister of failing to fulfil the mandate given to the NC by voters.

"You were elected to undo what the BJP and RSS did to the people of Jammu and Kashmir but all you managed is present shawls to those who hurt the feelings and dignity of our people. On the contrary, you browbeat students over reservations, daily wagers over regularisation and medical interns over a stipend hike," he added.

In his two-page resignation letter to the NC president, Ruhullah said the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 was "paradoxically an opportunity" to reclaim political space and rights, but doing so required struggle, sacrifices and a willingness to pay a price.

"My working assumption then was that the National Conference, the grand old party of Kashmir, was the natural candidate for the struggle that the situation demanded," he said.

He said he had campaigned vigorously for the NC during the Assembly elections, while people had also expressed their anger through a massive mandate for the party.

"But the electoral arena had not yet cooled down, the NC did an about turn. Personally, I saw this as a betrayal. What hurt me most was that the expectations of people had been betrayed. This happened at a time when J-K faces an existential threat," he added.

Ruhullah said that while some people wanted him to form a new political party, he was more interested in launching a movement for the restoration of dignity and respect for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"We pleaded for support for them (NC) during the 2024 elections and it has turned out to be a mistake. They might have given up but we have not. We will launch a movement where honest and compassionate people come forward to lead the struggle for restoring what has been snatched from us," he said.

BJP distances itself from NC turmoil

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Ravinder Raina on Tuesday distanced his party from the developments within the National Conference, saying it had no role in Ruhullah's resignation and would not resort to defections or political manoeuvring to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir.

However, he warned that the NC would face significant difficulties and challenges in the coming days.

"We have absolutely nothing to do with the turmoil within the National Conference. Whether its MLAs are raising the banner of rebellion or an MP is resigning, it is their internal matter. They have to deal with it themselves," Raina, former president of the J&K BJP, told reporters at the party headquarters in Jammu.

He described Ruhullah as a "very shrewd politician", pointing out that he had served as an MLA three times and had also held a ministerial position in Jammu and Kashmir.

Referring to reports of nearly 25 NC MLAs expressing dissent, Raina said the developments pointed towards growing internal tensions and a deepening crisis within the ruling party.

He said NC president Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah must take responsibility for resolving the situation.

"If there is a turmoil within their own house, it is for Abdullah and Omar to put their house in order. Why should we be concerned? We have nothing to do with it," he said.

Rejecting reports that the BJP was in touch with disgruntled NC MLAs or attempting to exploit the internal differences to form a government, Raina said such claims were baseless.

"The claims that the BJP is in touch with 25 MLAs or is planning something behind the scenes are completely false. This is nothing but political propaganda," he said.

Making the BJP's position clear on government formation, Raina said the party would not rely on defections or political manoeuvring to come to power in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Whenever the BJP gets a mandate from the people of Jammu and Kashmir, we will form our government. It will never happen that some MLAs rebel against a party and the BJP uses defections or political manoeuvring to form a government," he said.

However, Raina warned that the ruling party could face major political challenges in the coming days.

"As a political worker, I can say that the ruling party in J&K is going to face major difficulties and challenges in the days ahead. A mountain of troubles is approaching them," he claimed.