Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, a prominent Shia cleric and National Conference (NC) candidate for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, has emerged as a vocal opponent of the Centre’s August 5, 2019 moves to split erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories and end its seven-decade-long special status. Mehdi, who is contesting from the seat once preferred by the Abdullahs, spoke to The Hindu about the challenges facing regional parties in Kashmir and the need to restore Article 370 and the pre-1953 position of Jammu and Kashmir.
The National Conference has faced numerous challenges throughout its history, including the jailing of its founder, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, in 1953, and the attacks on its leaders by militants in 1989. Mehdi acknowledges that the party faces a particularly difficult task in the wake of the 2019 events, which he describes as a “great challenge”. However, he also sees this as an opportunity for the NC to return to its roots and reconnect with the reasons that led to its foundation.
Mehdi emphasizes that the NC’s political goal remains the restoration of the pre-1953 position of Jammu and Kashmir, which limited Delhi’s role to just four subjects. He believes that the road to achieving this goal begins with reversing the decisions taken on August 5, 2019, and that the struggle will continue until the pre-1953 position is restored.
Mehdi expresses his belief in the eventual restoration of Article 370, stating that he would not have espoused the cause if he did not believe in it. He envisions a future India where states across the country advocate for stronger states and a stronger federal structure, providing a context for the restoration of Article 370.
Mehdi advocates for dialogue with Pakistan, arguing that it is essential for achieving a permanent peace in Kashmir. He believes that engaging with Pakistan, even when it is at its weakest, is necessary to address the underlying causes of the conflict.
Mehdi raises concerns about the influx of outsiders into Jammu and Kashmir after 2019 and the potential impact on the region’s demographics. He emphasizes that the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to the Union of India was based on the guarantee that its demographics would not be changed.
Mehdi acknowledges that mainstream parties in Jammu and Kashmir have lost their narrative to separatists in explaining why Jammu and Kashmir decided to join India in 1947. He argues that the NC and other mainstream parties need to present a compelling argument based on democracy, constitutional principles, and the promise of autonomy and dignity.
Mehdi believes that the current calm in Jammu and Kashmir is not genuine peace but rather a forced calm. He calls for an atmosphere where media can speak and write openly, political mobilization is allowed for all shades of political opinion, and minorities feel safe and equal.
Mehdi emphasizes the importance of diversity and the need to celebrate all shades of opinion in Jammu and Kashmir. He believes that the region’s strength lies in its diversity and that the return of Kashmiri Pandits is essential for completing the region’s identity.
Mehdi acknowledges that the NC could have done more after 2019 and sees the upcoming Lok Sabha election as an opportunity to mobilize and convey the people of Jammu and Kashmir’s dissent against the Centre’s decisions. He believes that the NC’s methods may differ from others, but the objective and end result are the same.