Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Nov 3
Member of Parliament from Srinagar-Budgam constituency Aga Syed Ruhullah resigned from the ruling National Conference (NC) and his Lok Sabha seat on Tuesday, escalating his confrontation with the party leadership and signalling the possibility of a new political movement in Jammu and Kashmir.
Ruhullah announced his decision at a gathering of supporters at Behisht-e-Zehra Park in Budgam, held to mark the 26th death anniversary of his father, Aga Syed Mehdi. He subsequently submitted his resignation to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, seeking to relinquish his membership of the 18th Lok Sabha with immediate effect.
In his letter dated November 3, Ruhullah cited Article 101(3)(b) of the Constitution and Rule 240 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha, stating that his resignation was voluntary and genuine.
The influential Shia leader, who was elected from Srinagar in the 2024 parliamentary elections on an NC ticket, delivered an approximately 80-minute address in which he accused party president Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of abandoning electoral commitments and compromising the political interests of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said he could no longer remain associated with a party that had failed to honour its promises on restoration of Article 370, release of prisoners, regularisation of daily wagers, reservation reforms and 200 units of free electricity.
“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,” he said.
Describing his departure as a “decree of freedom”, Ruhullah said his decision was guided by his conscience and determination to defend the political and constitutional rights of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a symbolic gesture, he handed his resignation letter from the NC to Muhammad Ashraf Mattoo, father of teenager Tufail Mattoo, who was killed during security forces’ action against protesters in 2010, asking him to deliver it personally to Farooq Abdullah.
“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,” Ruhullah said.
The gesture evoked memories of the 2010 unrest, when Omar Abdullah was chief minister and Ruhullah was a cabinet minister in his government.
In his two-page resignation letter addressed to Farooq Abdullah, Ruhullah said the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35-A in August 2019 had created an opportunity to reclaim Jammu and Kashmir’s political space and constitutional rights, but that doing so required determined leadership, sustained struggle and sacrifices.
He said he had considered the NC, given its historical role in Kashmir’s politics, the natural platform to lead that struggle.
Ruhullah recalled campaigning extensively for the party during the 2024 Assembly elections, believing it would pursue the restoration of rights taken away from Jammu and Kashmir.
However, he alleged that the party had changed its position even before the electoral process had concluded.
“I personally 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 said.
He accused the party leadership of replacing a political struggle with routine administration and what he described as an uncertain promise of restoring statehood.
Ruhullah directed much of his criticism at Omar Abdullah, accusing him of betraying voters who had brought the NC to power in 2024.
He described the chief minister as an incompetent politician disconnected from ground realities and alleged that his government had failed to implement commitments made during the election campaign.
“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 alleged that daily wagers, students and medical interns who had approached the chief minister with grievances had received dismissive responses.
He quoted the chief minister as telling daily wagers, “I am not afraid of anybody”, and students seeking resolution of the reservation issue, “Don’t threaten me. I am not afraid.”
He also accused Omar Abdullah of failing to raise the issue of detained youth with the Union government, alleging that the chief minister had instead approached the Union Home Minister to secure clearance for an administrative file concerning his adviser.
“You were supposed to speak about the jailed youth, but instead you went to the Home Minister for your own work, to get your advisor’s file approved,” he alleged.
On the promise of 200 units of free electricity, Ruhullah said the NC leadership had forgotten its electoral commitments after assuming office.
“You have forgotten the cap you placed before the people to seek votes. You have forgotten the promise of 200 units of electricity. Your focus is now on getting vehicles,” he said.
Addressing Farooq Abdullah, he said: “Dr Farooq Abdullah, your son is ‘beqaarat’ (unworthy), not the Kashmiri qaum.”
Ruhullah accused Omar Abdullah of using his political standing and public influence during the election campaign before abandoning those who had supported him.
“You betrayed the people, you betrayed me, you betrayed everybody. You used me,” he said.
He recalled encouraging NC candidates during the Assembly elections to recognise the support of young people who respected him and were campaigning for the party.
Ruhullah predicted that voters would eventually reject the chief minister over what he described as a breach of public trust.
“This qaum will throw him out in such a way that he will never return as CM,” he said.
He also claimed to possess recordings of private conversations with the NC leadership concerning the 2024 parliamentary elections and threatened to make them public.
“Whatever you told me regarding the parliamentary elections in closed rooms, I have all the recordings, and I will expose you soon,” he said.
Ruhullah said the NC leadership had approached him to contest the parliamentary elections and had used his political credibility for its electoral advantage. He warned that he would disclose further details if the party continued to go back on its commitments.
Although he hinted at the possibility of forming a new political platform, Ruhullah said his immediate objective was not to secure political office or become chief minister.
Instead, he called for a broader movement involving honest, educated and compassionate people committed to restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s rights and dignity.
“We pleaded for support for them 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.
Calling for a new generation of political leadership, he said changing political parties alone would not bring meaningful transformation unless those holding positions of power demonstrated integrity and commitment.
“Give me youth of character, sincere youth, whose principles are clear, who feel the pain of Kashmiris, who know the suffering of the people of J&K. Give me such honest leaders, and you will see how they will lead you with dignity,” he said.
He said he would reach out to people across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh to identify individuals capable of leading a principled political movement.
Ruhullah also accused Farooq Abdullah of betraying public trust and compromising Jammu and Kashmir’s political dignity and rights. He said he hoped the veteran leader would live to witness the emergence of a new generation of leadership.
“The UK passport will not save you now; it won’t help to hold a foreign citizenship. You betrayed the trust of the people,” he said.
Turning his criticism towards the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Ruhullah said Jammu and Kashmir’s people would resist any political arrangement that undermined India’s secular foundations or their constitutional rights.
“This country is not the inheritance of the RSS,” he said, alleging that minority rights were being undermined and religious places targeted.
“Make India truly India, if you wish to win the hearts of Jammu and Kashmir. The India that was nurtured by Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Christians with their sweat and blood,” he said.
He asserted that people across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh would not compromise on their dignity and constitutional rights.
“We will fight for our constitutional rights against any power, no matter how strong. We will fight, and we will reclaim our rights,” he said.
