‘I will not hesitate to oppose my party if it fails to meet people’s expectations’: Ruhullah Mehdi

SRINAGAR: National Conference (NC) senior leader and Member of Parliament from Srinagar, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi said on Saturday that he will not hesitate to oppose his own party if it fails to meet the expectations of the people. He said the respect the party receives must be reciprocated through developmental work and public interest initiatives.

Addressing rallies in Palhallan and Hanjiwara villages of the Pattan Constituency in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, Mehdi voiced his commitment to the people of Jammu & Kashmir, reiterating promises to revoke the Public Safety Act (PSA) and other draconian laws. He also criticised the Government of India for imposing heavy penalties on imported apples, which he said undermines the livelihoods of local apple growers.

“I am taking my party’s agenda to the people at every level, with the expectation that the entire party will stand with them. However, if they betray the trust of the people, I will oppose them to uphold their expectations,” he asserted.

Mehdi said while he can tolerate many issues, he will not compromise on the respect and trust of the people. He urged residents of Palhallan to vote for NC candidate Reyaz Bedar, assuring them that their voices would be raised in the assembly.

On the topic of Article 370, the MP said the Central government revoked laws protecting the interests of the people in August 2019. “Article 370 was a safeguard for our land, honour and employment,” he said. “We are fighting a battle similar to that of the Palestinians. Today, we can fight this through our votes, but tomorrow we may have to sacrifice our lives for it.”

Ruhullah slammed those aligning with the BJP, accusing them of attempting to displace Kashmiris from their land, employment and religious identity. He claimed that several parties and independents contesting the elections are collaborating with the BJP, whose strategy is to divide and rule, reminiscent of events in 2014.

“They want to repeat what happened in 2014, but they will not succeed if the people unite this time. We must elect responsible candidates and fight those who oppose our interests. The people hold the power, and we must respect their mandate,” he stressed.

Mehdi reiterated the NC’s commitment to the promises outlined in its manifesto, saying that if elected to power, the party would focus on addressing pressing concerns such as the revocation of draconian laws, protection of local land and employment rights and fostering sustainable development.

Ruhullah also paid tribute to Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, calling him an “example for the entire Ummah whose contributions to the Islamic world will always be remembered”. (RK)