Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has accused the RSS and BJP of pursuing a political project that, he alleged, seeks to keep Muslims “disenfranchised” and Kashmiris politically marginalised.
Speaking in an interview, Ruhullah said the issue was not limited to electoral politics but concerned the broader question of political representation and the rights of people in Jammu and Kashmir. Pertinently, Mehdi believes that fighting for mere statehood is insufficient and risks normalizing the post-2019 constitutional changes. He maintains that the primary political struggle in Jammu and Kashmir must uncompromisingly focus on the restoration of Article 370 rather than settling for diluted.
He also questioned the Centre’s approach towards the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, asking why a clear timeline has not been provided for returning the region to full statehood. Ruhullah’s remarks come amid continued political debate over the future administrative and constitutional framework of Jammu and Kashmir. The restoration of statehood has remained a key demand of several political parties and groups in the Union Territory.
The MP argued that democratic governance cannot be assessed only through the conduct of elections, but must also be judged by the extent to which people have meaningful political representation and a voice in decisions affecting their future.He questioned whether the people of Jammu and Kashmir were being given adequate political space and representation in the present system.
The allegations against the RSS and BJP are likely to trigger a political response, particularly as questions over representation, statehood and the Centre’s policy towards Jammu and Kashmir remain politically sensitive.The larger issue, however, remains the restoration of statehood and the political rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
When will statehood be restored? Is there a definite roadmap? And will the people of Jammu and Kashmir have a greater say in determining their political future?These questions continue to remain at the centre of the region’s political discourse. Ruhullah has openly differed with his own party (the National Conference) leadership, arguing that restricting the political demand solely to statehood plays into the BJP’s narrative and accepts the August 5, 2019 status quo.
