Srinagar, Oct 20: National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Tuesday said the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 had deepened alienation in Jammu and Kashmir, accusing the BJP of creating a hostile atmosphere for Kashmiris within and outside the Union Territory.
Speaking to reporters, Ruhullah said Kashmir had been polarised rather than normalised since 2019, alleging that people from Jammu and Kashmir were increasingly viewed with suspicion and subjected to harassment.
“Instead of normalising Kashmir, it has been polarised,” he said, holding the BJP responsible for what he described as growing hostility towards Kashmiris.
Referring to the verification regime imposed on residents, prisoners detained without trial and the treatment of Kashmiris on highways, Ruhullah said the situation reflected the difficulties faced by people in their own homeland. He also cited an incident in Karnal, Haryana, as an example of the alleged targeting of Kashmiris outside Jammu and Kashmir.
On protests against Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Ruhullah said demonstrations by students, activists and concerned citizens reflected an attempt to reclaim democratic space. He said the restrictions and detentions faced by protesters bore similarities to the measures experienced by people in Kashmir, though the situation in the Union Territory had been more severe.
Ruhullah called for the Election Commissioner’s resignation and criminal proceedings against him if the allegations were established. He also demanded a review of elections conducted under his supervision, referring to objections raised within the Election Commission.
“People are trying to reclaim the streets, reclaim the country and reclaim democracy,” he said, adding that such protests offered hope for safeguarding constitutional values and democratic institutions.
On the abrogation of Article 370, Ruhullah said merely describing the August 5, 2019, decision as wrong was insufficient and political parties should explain what concrete steps they were taking to reverse it.
“The question is: what are all of us doing to reverse that decision? What is the party doing? What is the government we formed doing to reverse that decision?” he asked.
Ruhullah also expressed disappointment with the performance of the Omar Abdullah-led government over the past two years, saying people had been let down on both the political and governance fronts.
Citing issues related to employment, electricity, reservation, students, interns, prisoners and the protection of local interests, he questioned the government’s record and said people had little reason to feel satisfied.
He said students and interns had again taken to the streets after repeated assurances that their grievances would be resolved failed to provide relief. He also expressed concern over the lack of progress on the demand for restoration of statehood.
Ruhullah said people raising questions about Article 370 and constitutional guarantees were often accused of acting as agents of Delhi, while concerns relating to governance and public welfare remained unresolved.
“On which of these fronts can we say that the government has done something that satisfies us?” he asked, adding that he shared the disappointment being expressed by the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
