Srinagar, Oct 26: National Conference (NC) senior leader and Member of Parliament Aga Ruhullah on Sunday termed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s recent remarks about “not being afraid of people” over the reservation issue as shocking, saying such statements go against the very electorate that brought him to power.
Speaking at the 4th Halla Bolle Conclave at Radisson Collection, Srinagar, Ruhullah said the NC had promised during the 2024 election campaign to restore what was taken from the people and to fight for all their rights. “Now, in power, we seem to be compromising—limiting our fight only to statehood,” he remarked.
He accused the NC of following the same path it once criticized others for. “Before elections, we said other parties were aligning with the BJP and justifying August 5. Now we are doing the same, taking positions that were once advocated by BJP allies,” he said.
Ruhullah also expressed disappointment over the government’s handling of the reservation issue, saying it should have been among its top priorities. “What will I tell the people of Budgam if I go back for campaigning? They voted for us to resist BJP’s suffocating rule, but now our CM says he’s not afraid of the people — that’s unexpected and disappointing,” he added.
Criticizing the administration’s governance record, Ruhullah said the NC had promised to remove smart meters but is now defending them in power. “This is not what we stood for,” he said. (Agencies)
