Ruhullah Mehdi Calls for United Movement on J&K Statehood, Offers to Quit Parliament if Needed

SRINAGAR: National Conference MP Syed Aga Ruhullah Mehdi on Thursday called for a united and sustained movement for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and constitutional rights, saying the struggle must be built on “credibility, consistency and public trust,” not political optics.Speaking to reporters, the Srinagar MP said people are increasingly questioning the sincerity of political leadership and warned that symbolic gestures without a clear strategy would fail to achieve meaningful results.“Statehood restoration cannot be achieved through one-day events or political theatrics. A serious movement requires a roadmap, public outreach across Kashmir and engagement in New Delhi,” Ruhullah said.The NC leader stressed the need to build momentum both inside and outside Parliament and urged political parties to learn from Ladakh’s united approach in raising constitutional and governance issues with the Centre.Calls for Single Platform on J&K RightsRuhullah advocated the creation of a common platform bringing together all political parties, civil society groups and stakeholders to collectively pursue the restoration of rights revoked after August 2019.“If political parties are sincere, they should set aside electoral competition and unite for a larger cause. People will support the movement only when they see consistency and genuine commitment,” he said.‘Ready to Resign from Parliament’In a significant statement, Ruhullah said he would be willing to resign from Parliament if a broader movement for J&K rights is formed.“I will be the first to resign if a common movement emerges. Representatives should come from a united platform rather than individual party banners until our constitutional rights are restored,” he said.The remarks come a day after the National Conference announced plans to hold a protest in New Delhi during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, demanding the restoration of J&K statehood and constitutional guarantees. The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at Dachigam National Park.Ruhullah’s comments have intensified the ongoing political debate over the future roadmap for restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s democratic and constitutional rights.