NC MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi announces resignation from Lok Sabha and party after Farooq Abdullah’s public dare to contest on his own. SRINAGAR: National Conference’s Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi announced Friday that he would resign from both Lok Sabha and the party, taking up patriarch Farooq Abdullah’s public dare to quit and contest an election on his own instead of criticising the brass repeatedly over its alleged dilution of the campaign for restoration of Article 370.Mehdi said he would formally send his resignation to LS Speaker Om Birla on Nov 3, coinciding with the 26th death anniversary of his father Aga Syed Mehdi, who was killed by terrorists.In a letter to Farooq, who remains NC president, Mehdi flagged what he sees as a dichotomy in the party’s stand on constitutional guarantees for the region. “I remember that you were the chief minister of the very assembly that passed the autonomy resolution. That, too, must have required courage. Why, then, has the mere mention of constitutional guarantees for Jammu & Kashmir now become so offensive that you felt compelled to publicly demand my resignation?”The MP described Article 370, struck off on Aug 5, 2019, as part of the decision to revoke J&K’s special status, as “shorthand for the struggle to restore the dignity, honour, constitutional guarantees and liberties” of Kashmiris.“Nearly 65% of J&K’s population is young, and their future is increasingly uncertain, with no jobs and opportunities. Our land is up for grabs. Our resources benefit everybody but us. Our religious rights, traditions and language face constant pressure,” Mehdi wrote.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe MP has been increasingly critical of CM Omar Abdullah and NC for allegedly narrowing their fight to statehood and business rules for governance. Although a member of the party’s working committee, he hasn’t been part of crucial meetings.His rift with the party deepened after Dec 23, 2024, when he led a large student protest outside Omar’s Gupkar residence against the UT’s reservation policy. Omar engaged five student representatives in a long discussion but ignored Mehdi.Earlier this week, Farooq said Mehdi would not have won the parliamentary election without NC and accused him of trying to project himself as a powerful votary of Article 370 while being “on the wrong path”.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.Here are more Raksha Bandhan wishes, Bhadra kaal and Shubh Muhurat from The Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch’Willing & Keen’: Penguin Random House Denies Dropping Sonia Gandhi’s Memoir Over Editorial ChangesGovt Taps EIL For Quality Checks On 5,000 Km Of Road Projects After Modi’s ‘4th-Party Audit’ Jibe469 Dead In Nepal Floods; 3 Bodies Found In Uttar Pradesh; Kathmandu Declines Foreign Rescue TeamsCongress Alleges ₹36,000 Crore ‘Sugar Scam’, Slams Modi Govt Over Festive Price RisePM Modi’s Central Asia Visit: SCO Summit, Uzbekistan Ties, Putin Meet In Focus123Photostories10 vintage baby girl names that still sound fresh todayJungkook style evolution: From bold eyeliner to quiet luxury, how BTS’ star transformed his fashion5 jewellery styling mistakes to avoid with traditional festive outfitsLock Upp 2 fame Akanksha Chamola’s luxurious Mumbai home: Elegant interiors, cosy living room and beautiful mandirH1N1 Or COVID-19? Symptoms may look the same, but the diagnosis can mean a very different treatment approachMakeup not lasting all day? Here’s why your base melts by noonThe ‘ick’ explained: 7 reasons attraction between partners can suddenly disappear (and how to bring the spark back)5 reasons people pull away even when they have feelings7 signs you like the idea of a romantic relationship more than your partnerCuff too tight, legs crossed or talking? Cardiologist reveals 5 home BP mistakes that can alter readings123Hot PicksNepal floodUPTET Result 2026Sunny LeoneKerala name changeRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAnkit Balyan MurderChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash
SRINAGAR: National Conference’s Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi announced Friday that he would resign from both Lok Sabha and the party, taking up patriarch Farooq Abdullah’s public dare to quit and contest an election on his own instead of criticising the brass repeatedly over its alleged dilution of the campaign for restoration of Article 370.Mehdi said he would formally send his resignation to LS Speaker Om Birla on Nov 3, coinciding with the 26th death anniversary of his father Aga Syed Mehdi, who was killed by terrorists.In a letter to Farooq, who remains NC president, Mehdi flagged what he sees as a dichotomy in the party’s stand on constitutional guarantees for the region. “I remember that you were the chief minister of the very assembly that passed the autonomy resolution. That, too, must have required courage. Why, then, has the mere mention of constitutional guarantees for Jammu & Kashmir now become so offensive that you felt compelled to publicly demand my resignation?”The MP described Article 370, struck off on Aug 5, 2019, as part of the decision to revoke J&K’s special status, as “shorthand for the struggle to restore the dignity, honour, constitutional guarantees and liberties” of Kashmiris.“Nearly 65% of J&K’s population is young, and their future is increasingly uncertain, with no jobs and opportunities. Our land is up for grabs. Our resources benefit everybody but us. Our religious rights, traditions and language face constant pressure,” Mehdi wrote.
Share your thoughts in the comments
Be respectful · TOI community guidelines
The MP has been increasingly critical of CM Omar Abdullah and NC for allegedly narrowing their fight to statehood and business rules for governance. Although a member of the party’s working committee, he hasn’t been part of crucial meetings.His rift with the party deepened after Dec 23, 2024, when he led a large student protest outside Omar’s Gupkar residence against the UT’s reservation policy. Omar engaged five student representatives in a long discussion but ignored Mehdi.Earlier this week, Farooq said Mehdi would not have won the parliamentary election without NC and accused him of trying to project himself as a powerful votary of Article 370 while being “on the wrong path”.
