MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi talks of ‘accountability', hints at growing rift with NC leadership
National Conference MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi
SRINAGAR: National Conference MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi's disenchantment with his party leadership came to the fore once again on Friday as he lamented that the quality of politics in J&K had degraded, and hinted at charting an independent course.
Addressing a function in north Kashmir's Sopore, Mehdi said he was looking for people who would walk with him and work towards bringing accountability to the system — 'those who stand for credibility'.
No NC representative from Sopore or local cadre was present at the function, indicating it was independently organised by the MP's supporters. This has fuelled a buzz about the growing rift between the MP and his party.
Mehdi is seen as a rebel voice within NC, who often accuses the party of abandoning 'fight for restoration of Article 370'. Last month, in the party's working committee meeting, he had expressed displeasure over the party's policies under the Omar Abdullah govt, and insisted that the restoration of Article 370 should be their main focus.
In his speech on Friday, Mehdi insisted on changing the politics in J&K, and said society should demand accountability from politicians.
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Mehdi has been in politics for over two decades and this is the first time he was in Sopore town to address people. He said he was invited by a civil society group. 'It doesn't matter to me whether my party representatives or any political party is present there or not,' he added. It also did not matter whether people had voted for him or not, Mehdi said, asserting that if they called him, he would happily accept the invitation.
Talking about govt's report on the reservations in J&K, he said the findings should be disclosed within a week.
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