Kashmir’s politics has always been a delicate balancing act — between emotion and struggle, between power and principle. Yet in recent years, this balance appears to have tilted decisively towards expediency. Politics today, it seems, no longer speaks the language of conscience, but of convenience. In such a climate, two senior leaders of the National Conference — Agha Ruhullah Mehdi and Miyan Altaf Ahmad Larvi — have reignited a rare debate within Kashmiri politics: Is politics merely a means to power, or a moral duty to represent the people’s conscience?
Agha Ruhullah|The Voice Of Conscience : When Agha Ruhullah declared during his election campaign last year, “If my own party ever acts against the interests of the people, I will stand with the people, not the party,” it was not a slogan — it was a statement of defiance. In an age when loyalty is measured by proximity to power, his words challenged the very grammar of political obedience. Ruhullah is more than a politician. He is a thinker shaped by a religious and intellectual tradition. His politics blends ethics with empathy, faith with foresight. He sees politics not as an opportunity, but as an amanat — a sacred trust. To speak the language of conscience within a party as historic and hierarchical as the National Conference is no easy task. Such words, in any power structure, are often deemed unpopular, even inconvenient. Yet Agha Ruhullah has chosen courage over compliance. “When politics silences a man, it is no longer service — it is servitude,” he said. That single sentence, quiet yet forceful, captures the moral crisis at the heart of Kashmir’s politics today.
Miyan Altaf Larvi|The Spiritual Pulse Of Politics: Revered across Kashmir for his humility, spiritual grace, and quiet dignity, Miyan Altaf Ahmad Larvi carries the aura of a man unswayed by political theatre. When he recently echoed Agha Ruhullah’s sentiment, the discourse within the NC transformed from a statement to a movement — from disagreement to introspection. In a public gathering, Miyan Altaf said: “Politics without conscience is nothing but the lust for power — not public service.” The remark, simple yet profound, struck deep. It was not rhetoric — it was a reflection born of experience. Throughout his long political life, Miyan Altaf has seldom spoken carelessly. When he speaks, his words shake the complacency of the powerful. His reminder that “Politics should be worship, not trade,” is a revolutionary thought in an era where politics is often a marketplace of interests. In a landscape of calculation, he offers the fragrance of conviction.
Conscience V/S Party Discipline: The National Conference, once the emblem of Kashmiri aspiration and autonomy, seems today entangled in the pragmatism of power. Within this framework, voices like Ruhullah and Altaf are reopening the door to self-reflection — urging the party to rediscover its moral compass. Their loyalty to the NC is unquestionable, but it is not blind. They remind the organization that truth to the people must outweigh obedience to the party. This is a dilemma that confronts every political institution sooner or later: Can a party tolerate the voice of conscience within? Or must every dissenting note be branded as rebellion? It is this silent tension — between loyalty and liberty — that defines the NC’s inner struggle today.
“True politics must be guided by faith and conscience (which is described as “worship”), rather than being separated from it (which the author calls “servitude”). They are seen as a light that can lead Kashmir’s politics toward a new dawn, where leadership is defined by loyalty to truth instead of loyalty to power.”
Politics Of Power V/S Politics Of People: In recent years, Kashmir’s political space has witnessed a shift. The ideological lines have blurred; electoral arithmetic has replaced ethical debate. There are slogans aplenty, but sincerity in short supply. Against this backdrop, the voices of Agha Ruhullah and Miyan Altaf sound almost like a moral uprising. They are bringing politics back to its spiritual plane. Their message is simple yet radical: “If we claim to represent the people, we must first be true to them.” Perhaps their words don’t fit neatly into the calculus of “practical politics,” but that is precisely why they matter. In an age of managed narratives, authenticity itself is rebellion.
Unease Within The Party : Unsurprisingly, some within the National Conference view this new “conscience politics” with discomfort. They worry that such statements could disrupt party unity. Yet on the ground, among the people, the effect has been the opposite — Ruhullah and Altaf’s stature has only grown. This paradox exposes the deeper malaise of Kashmiri politics: the leaders who win the people’s trust often lose comfort within their own ranks. Some senior voices within the party quietly admit that the NC must not suppress such introspection. After all, this was once the moral spirit that defined its founding years. To silence these voices now would be to begin a decline — not electoral, but ethical.
Why Conscience Matters In Kashmir’s Politics: Politics in Kashmir has never been a mere contest for power. It has been — and still is — an expression of emotion, endurance, and dignity. Yet somewhere along the way, the moral soul of that politics has dimmed. The people now look beyond slogans. They seek authenticity — leaders who speak truth even when it costs them comfort. In that sense, Agha Ruhullah and Miyan Altaf are not just individuals; they are reminders that integrity can still exist in public life. Their stance redefines representation itself: that politics is not a race for positions, but a test of faith, honesty, and courage.
The Future Of Conscience Politics: The question now is: can this politics of conscience endure? Can the National Conference — the spine of Kashmiri politics for decades — allow such moral dissent to breathe within its walls? If the party truly wishes to reclaim its historical soul, it must embrace, not exile, such thought. For history shows that when parties silence conscience, they lose their credibility long before they lose elections.
The Last Word|The Conscience Still Lives: Everything in politics changes — alliances, slogans, promises, power. But one thing endures: conscience. Agha Ruhullah and Miyan Altaf have shown that in Kashmir conscience is still alive. Their words may not echo instantly in the halls of power, but they already resonate in the hearts of the people. They remind us that when politics divorces faith, it becomes servitude; but when it aligns with conscience, it becomes worship. Perhaps that is the light Kashmir’s politics needs — a light strong enough to pierce through decades of darkness and announce a dawn where leadership is not defined by loyalty to power, but by loyalty to truth.
(The author a national political debator is a freelancer. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
