BUDGAM, November 3, 2026 – In a major political upheaval for the ruling National Conference (NC), Srinagar Member of Parliament and influential Shia leader Syed Aga Ruhullah Mehdi announced his resignation from both the party and the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, accusing the top leadership of betraying the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a massive gathering at Behisht-e-Zehra Park in Budgam to mark the 26th death anniversary of his father, Aga Syed Mehdi, Ruhullah delivered a fiery 80-minute speech. He launched a direct and scathing attack on NC President Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accusing them of abandoning the core fight for the restoration of Article 370 and compromising the region’s dignity for the sake of power.
“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,” the outgoing Lok Sabha MP declared. He described his resignation from the party as a “decree of freedom.”
Taking a sharp dig at the Chief Minister, Ruhullah remarked, “People who lose chairs get unhappy, but here we are throwing away a chair and we are happy. The chair you are sitting on right now is a source of sadness for both you and us.”
Dismissing the idea of simply forming a traditional political party, Ruhullah announced his intention to spearhead a fresh political movement. He called upon the “honest and compassionate” youth of the region to come forward and lead the struggle to restore the constitutional rights that have been snatched away from J&K.
He emphasized that the people of Jammu and Kashmir will no longer allow New Delhi to dictate their future. “We will decide our agenda and set our own terms. The Centre will not decide our agenda for us,” he asserted, noting that while the NC leadership might have given up the fight, the people have not.
Ruhullah’s sudden exit deals a severe blow to the National Conference, stripping the party of one of its most vocal Parliamentarians and a crucial mass leader in the Budgam-Srinagar belt, just months after his commanding Lok Sabha victory in 2024.
Published by True Roots Media Network