Srinagar, Nov 6 – Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi announced today that the ruling National Conference (NC) has fulfilled a central campaign promise by introducing a resolution on restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in the first session of the Legislative Assembly. Speaking to reporters, Mehdi emphasized that this move aligns with the party’s commitment, laid out in its manifesto, to prioritize J&K’s special status issue from day one in the Assembly.
“We pledged that this would be our first order of business in the Assembly, and today, as routine business commenced, the NC introduced the resolution as promised,” said Mehdi, expressing gratitude towards Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and party colleagues for upholding the commitment. “This is a significant step, but it’s also just the beginning,” Mehdi stated, adding that the introduction of the resolution “opens the doors to a broader struggle.”
The MP shared his own efforts in Parliament to address J&K’s special status, noting that while he’s spoken on the issue nationally, it was critical for it to be taken up within the state legislature. “This is a unified effort on behalf of the state,” he added, calling for the momentum to continue in collaboration with other Assembly members.
The resolution, Mehdi noted, has broad support within the Assembly, with the majority standing in solidarity with the sentiment behind restoring J&K’s special status. However, the resolution faced criticism from the BJP, with some members accusing Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather of partisanship. They alleged that Rather conducted himself as an NC representative rather than an impartial custodian of the House. In response, Mehdi dismissed BJP’s criticism, remarking, “We have witnessed the Speaker’s conduct in Parliament, where behavior often crosses ethical lines. They’re in no position to lecture us on the impartiality of the Speaker.”
Asked about the role of the Lieutenant Governor (LG) in this matter, Mehdi was candid. “For me, the LG’s office lacks democratic relevance,” he remarked, underscoring the NC’s view that the Assembly remains the true voice of the people in a democratic framework.