SRINAGAR: National Conference MP from Srinagar, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, on Tuesday questioned the performance of the Jammu and Kashmir government, saying people were disappointed over the lack of progress on political promises, employment, reservation and other public concerns.
Speaking to reporters, Ruhullah said the government must explain what it had achieved in restoring constitutional rights and addressing the issues on which people had placed their trust in the elected leadership.
“Whether it is the political agenda, governance, electricity, employment, reservation, students, interns, prisoners or protection of jobs, on which parameter can we say that the government has done something that satisfies us?” he asked.
The Srinagar MP said people had expected the elected government to take a firm stand on the restoration of Article 370 and other constitutional guarantees, but were now being asked to limit their demands to statehood.
“We are told not to talk about constitutional guarantees or Article 370. We are told to follow the path given by Modi and talk about statehood. Now, even statehood is not being discussed,” he said.
Responding to a question about a statement describing the abrogation of Article 370 as a wrong decision, Ruhullah said merely acknowledging the decision as wrong was not enough.
“Everyone knows that the decision of August 5 was wrong. What are we doing to reverse that decision? What is the party doing? What is our government doing?” he asked.
He said the issue required institutional, democratic and peaceful efforts rather than repeated statements.
“We do not want commentary. What is the government doing to reverse that decision? What is the party doing? We should ask these questions,” he said.
Ruhullah also criticised the government’s handling of student protests over reservation and the concerns raised by interns.
He said students had been assured that their grievances would be addressed within a month, but the deadline had passed without a satisfactory resolution.
“Students are back on the streets. Interns are back on the streets. They were told their problems would be resolved within a month, but after a month they received the same humiliation,” he alleged.
The MP said public disappointment was growing because people were dissatisfied with both the government’s political approach and its performance on governance.
“Unfortunately, the people of Kashmir are disappointed. They are disappointed with the political agenda and they are disappointed with governance,” he said.
Turning to the situation in Jammu and Kashmir since 2019, Ruhullah accused the BJP of creating a hostile atmosphere for Kashmiris both within the Union Territory and in other parts of the country.
He alleged that Kashmiris were increasingly being treated with suspicion and subjected to harassment.
“Instead of normalising Kashmir, it has been polarised. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have been made suspects in their own land. The verification regime is an example of this,” he said.
Referring to an incident in Karnal, Haryana, Ruhullah alleged that Kashmiris faced hostility outside Jammu and Kashmir as well.
He also raised concerns about prisoners from Jammu and Kashmir, claiming that many had remained in detention for years without trial.
“Kashmiris are being harassed inside and outside Kashmir. The developments since 2019 have not normalised the relationship. The responsibility for this hostility lies with the BJP,” he alleged.
The MP further criticised the treatment of protesters in Delhi, drawing comparisons with restrictions imposed in Kashmir in previous years.
He referred to the detention of activists and internet restrictions, saying such measures reflected a wider challenge to democratic rights.
Ruhullah also called for accountability over allegations concerning the Election Commission, saying questions raised about the conduct of elections should be examined seriously.
He demanded the resignation of the election commissioner facing allegations and called for criminal proceedings if wrongdoing was established.
The MP said peaceful protests and public demands for accountability were essential to protecting democracy and constitutional rights.
He said the growing willingness of students, activists and concerned citizens to raise their voices offered hope for democratic accountability.
Ruhullah maintained that political leaders must be judged by their actions rather than statements, particularly on the restoration of constitutional guarantees and the promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the government needed to demonstrate progress on employment, reservation, electricity, protection of local jobs and the concerns of students and prisoners before it could claim to have met public expectations. (KNS)
