Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on hit back at the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) leadership after the party accused him of “mental and moral bankruptcy” and “self-obsession” following his resignation from the party and parliamentary seat. In a sharp response posted on X by his office, Ruhullah accused the NC leadership of abandoning its electoral commitments and questioned Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's stance on the restoration of Article 370.Calling the NC's statement “shameless”, Ruhullah said the party leadership appeared more angered by a man questioning its promises than by those who stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its constitutional rights.“You have more anger for a man holding you to your promises than for those who stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its rights.

Your courage appears only when the questions are directed at you,” the statement said.Ruhullah also responded to the NC's criticism of his reference to the 2010 political events in Jammu and Kashmir, saying he had been part of the government at the time and had acknowledged his responsibility. He questioned whether Omar Abdullah, who was the chief minister then, had similarly acknowledged his role. “He was part of that government.

He owes answers for that, and leaving the party does not erase that responsibility. He has acknowledged it.

Where is the same acknowledgment from the man who was Chief Minister?” the statement said.The NC had accused Ruhullah of conveniently remembering the 2010 events after 16 years, alleging that he had continued as a minister until a general reshuffle and contested the 2014 Assembly elections on the party's ticket.RUHULLAH QUESTIONS NC'S ARTICLE 370 STAND Ruhullah challenged the NC leadership to explain its position on the restoration of Article 370, questioning why the party had sought votes on the promise despite knowing that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was in power at the Centre.“Why did you ask people to vote for the restoration of Article 370 if your answer after winning was that those who took it away would not return it?” the statement asked.He also questioned what had changed after the Assembly elections, apart from the NC gaining access to government office.The NC, in its statement, had questioned Ruhullah's parliamentary efforts towards restoring special status, asking whether he had attempted to gather support among MPs or introduce a resolution or bill on the issue.Ruhullah also defended his protest against the reservation policy, saying he had stood alongside students outside the chief minister's residence in December 2024. He accused the NC government of failing to provide transparency on its proposed reservation reforms.“You promised to correct the injustice.

Now you want applause for a committee and sympathy for a stalled file,” the statement said, demanding that the government publish the decision, relevant dates and details of what remained pending.'VOTES BELONGED TO THE PEOPLE'Ruhullah further rejected the NC's assertion that he owed his political existence to the party, saying the mandate belonged to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.“Stop telling people that he owes his political existence to you. The votes belonged to the people.

The seats belonged to the people,” the statement said.He accused the NC leadership of treating public office as an inheritance and portraying those questioning its decisions as ungrateful.The exchange comes amid growing political tensions within the ruling NC after Ruhullah announced his resignation from the party and parliamentary seat at a gathering in Budgam on Tuesday.Ruhullah said he could no longer stand by the party as it allegedly moved away from its campaign promises on Article 370, constitutional rights, reservation reforms and the release of political prisoners.The NC had termed his resignation “too late”, accusing him of undermining the party and contributing to its defeat in the Budgam Assembly by-election.Ruhullah ended his response with a direct attack on the NC leadership, saying his resignation had returned the parliamentary seat that the party had repeatedly used against him.“Today, he returned the seat you kept throwing in his face,” the statement said, adding, “Stay rattled.”- Ends