Cryptic tweets by J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, National Conference MP Ruhullah hint at friction within party
Cryptic tweets on X by J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and ruling National Conference (NC) Member of Parliament (MP) Aga Syed Ruhullah, amid reports of growing ideological differences, on Sunday (May 25, 2025) gave credence to the brewing tension within the ruling party.
Quoting a couplet from a local poet, Janbaaz Kishtwari, Mr. Ruhullah wrote on X: 'Either rise and become such a sukhanvar (orator/poet/speaker) who serves a purpose for the nation; Or sit in the comfort of the zanpaan (palanquin).'
The NC parliamentarian's tweet on X followed Mr. Abdullah's oblique reference post. 'There are doers and there are talkers. That's why I don't talk as much as some people I know.' He did not qualify the tweet or its context further.
Sunday musing
There are doers & there are talkers. That's why I don't talk as much as some people I know. pic.twitter.com/ke6q0cKirx — Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 25, 2025
These tweets assumed significance as Mr. Ruhullah reportedly expressed a dissenting voice during a meeting of the ruling NC on May 21, where it passed a seven-point resolution in favour of special status and restoration of Statehood.
Sources in the NC said Mr. Ruhullah sought the party's focus towards ideological goalposts like the restoration of Article 370 rather than issues of governance. The MP told the NC meeting to pursue the election manifesto, which promised the release of political prisoners, the restoration of greater autonomy, and the safeguarding of the constitutional identity of J&K, and warned of negative consequences if the party drifted away from its foundational narrative.
However, the NC refuted reports that Mr. Ruhullah left the May 21 meeting in a huff.
'Such reports are fabrications. We talked cordially in the meeting. Ruhullah didn't walk out. He left with permission from Dr. Farooq Abdullah and CM Abdullah due to a family emergency. All members, including him, supported the resolution on special status,' NC leader and MLA Tanvir Sadiq.
'It's an attempt to blunt the NC resolution passed by the NC. It's done by opposition parties,' he added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Farooq Abdullah warns of Supreme Court move if Jammu & Kashmir statehood not restored
National Conference's Farfooq Abdullah SRINAGAR: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah blamed the "dual power structure" in the Union territory for the slow pace of development and warned that his party would move SC if statehood isn't restored soon. It is the first time NC has openly threatened legal action on restoration of statehood for Jammu & Kashmir. Abdullah said Saturday that people's expectations remain unmet due to the lack of full statehood despite formation of an elected govt in Oct 2024 - the first in J&K since 2018 and after region was carved into two UTs in 2019. "People hoped the new govt would address their demands, but the absence of statehood is a major obstacle," he said after a meeting with party delegates at Kokernag in south Kashmir's Anantnag district. "How can we fulfil aspirations without statehood? Only with it can we have a full-fledged cabinet capable of addressing public issues effectively," he added. Abdullah said his party had launched an outreach campaign to make people aware of "certain political forces ready to compromise their interests". He added that after NC-led coalition's eight months in office, he remains hopeful about the return of statehood. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "We have been waiting patiently. But if the delay continues, we will have little option but to approach Supreme Court." The "power struggle" between National Conference-led elected govt and lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha has grown increasingly public. This month, cabinet ministers accused Sinha of interfering in administrative decisions reserved for govt. Sinha had pushed back. "I have no authority over development departments. Governance is elected govt's responsibility. I only control police & can deploy them where needed. Roads, water, electricity, agriculture - all are under elected govt," he said. Peoples Conference president Sajad Lone backed the demand for statehood but criticised NC's record in office. "UT status certainly limits development and is a humiliating existence. But whatever powers exist, NC govt has not utilised them. Instead, they've weaponised govt transfers and discriminated against constituencies they didn't win," Lone said. He also questioned the concentration of power in CMO. "CM has 32 depts. Is it humanly possible to run 32 departments?" Lone asked.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Iran Hacks Into Israeli CCTVs, Refines Strikes With Surveillance Footage: Officials
Indus Water War Heats Up: Now Omar Abdullah Refuses To Divert Water To Punjab, Congress Hits Back A fresh water dispute has erupted between Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab, just weeks after Punjab's clash with Haryana. This time, it's over the proposed 113 km canal to divert surplus Indus water from J&K to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan to prevent it from flowing to Pakistan. J&K CM Omar Abdullah has rejected the idea, saying Jammu itself faces water scarcity. 'Why should I send water to Punjab?' he asked, reminding that Punjab already has three rivers under the Indus Waters Treaty. He also invoked the decades-old Shahpur Kandi barrage dispute, insisting J&K won't give up more water. Reacting sharply, Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa accused Abdullah of undermining Punjab's sacrifice and patriotism, pointing to Punjab's suffering during Operation Sindoor, saying 'Pakistan attacked Punjab more than Jammu & Kashmir.' The conflict exposes deeper fault lines in India's federal water-sharing model, raising questions of equity, national interest, and regional politics — especially with Pakistan watching closely as India attempts to control its Indus water allocations.#waterdispute #punjabvsjk #induswaters #shahpurkandi #operationsindoor #omarabdullah #sukhjinderrandhawa #toi #toibharat #bharat #breakingnews #indianews 6.0K views | 6 hours ago
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Tulsi Gabbard Posts Testimony Clip On Iran After Trump Rebukes Her Statement On Nuclear Weapons
Indus Water War Heats Up: Now Omar Abdullah Refuses To Divert Water To Punjab, Congress Hits Back A fresh water dispute has erupted between Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab, just weeks after Punjab's clash with Haryana. This time, it's over the proposed 113 km canal to divert surplus Indus water from J&K to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan to prevent it from flowing to Pakistan. J&K CM Omar Abdullah has rejected the idea, saying Jammu itself faces water scarcity. 'Why should I send water to Punjab?' he asked, reminding that Punjab already has three rivers under the Indus Waters Treaty. He also invoked the decades-old Shahpur Kandi barrage dispute, insisting J&K won't give up more water. Reacting sharply, Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa accused Abdullah of undermining Punjab's sacrifice and patriotism, pointing to Punjab's suffering during Operation Sindoor, saying 'Pakistan attacked Punjab more than Jammu & Kashmir.' The conflict exposes deeper fault lines in India's federal water-sharing model, raising questions of equity, national interest, and regional politics — especially with Pakistan watching closely as India attempts to control its Indus water allocations.#waterdispute #punjabvsjk #induswaters #shahpurkandi #operationsindoor #omarabdullah #sukhjinderrandhawa #toi #toibharat #bharat #breakingnews #indianews 6.0K views | 6 hours ago
