Anantnag, Sept 11: Member of Parliament, Srinagar, Agha Ruhullah Mehdi on Thursday said people gave their mandate in the assembly elections for a particular struggle, and those who received votes should work only in that direction.
Addressing a gathering at Town Hall Anantnag, Ruhullah said, “If they (NC government) are satisfied with less than that, or if they do not work in that direction, then they are betraying the people.”
When asked if the programme was political, he replied, “I spoke for an hour explaining these things, but unfortunately, you asked whether this was a political gathering. I have nothing to do with any party, nor am I against or in favour of any party. I came here at the invitation of civil society. Anyone could have attended—NC, PDP, Congress. Even if someone from NC chose not to, they were free not to come.”
Mehdi, representing the National Conference, said the event was not linked to any political party. “Rumours were spread that I had been arrested on the way. Also, the arrangements made with permission were lifted, and the venue was closed. These things do not make any difference to me. These are tactics of the administration. They wanted this programme to fail, but it was held successfully,” he said.
Ruhullah reiterated that the people’s mandate was for a struggle and must be respected. “Whosoever has been given the vote should work for that only. If they are satisfied with less than that, or fail to work, then they are betraying the people,” he said.
Referring to the PSA, the MP said, “The law was initially introduced to stop timber smuggling, but since then it has been misused. The NC has stated in its manifesto that once statehood is restored, it will revoke the PSA. But law & order is not in the hands of the state government. That is why I say, fight for the return of that status.”
He added, “We can bring these legal changes only after regaining that power. Unfortunately, we have forgotten that fight. The vote was given to fight for that power and to bring the promised legal changes.”
On the current situation, Mehdi said empowerment was missing. “People voted for accountability, but they are in despair and disappointed that the government is not moving in that direction,” he said.
Earlier, Ruhullah said that from 2019 to 2024, there was an “unaccountable system” in place. “When people got the chance in the assembly elections, they voted against suffocation. If anyone in the Secretariat believes the turnout was for a particular party, they are under an illusion. People of J&K, suffocated by an unaccountable system, wanted to elect one accountable and responsive to them,” he said.
