Surinder Choudhary Presses BJP Over Ruhullah Mehdi's Exit From NC, Lok Sabha

Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Wednesday asked the BJP to explain its role in Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi's resignation from the National Conference (NC) and the Lok Sabha, alleging the party had misled him.

Speaking to reporters, Choudhary pointed to a statement by BJP national vice-president Ram Madhav, who said Ruhullah's Budgam rally was held with the blessings of "our people." Choudhary read this as an admission and said questions about NC discontent should go to the BJP's Leader of Opposition, Sunil Sharma. He called Ruhullah a decent and respectable person, and accused the BJP of "drama."

The backdrop: Ruhullah announced his exit at the Budgam rally on Tuesday, ending a long stalemate with the party leadership. He accused NC leaders, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in particular, of failing on promises to fight for special status and statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.

The NC has alleged that the BJP ran an "Operation Lotus" in Kashmir with Ruhullah's help, and says Madhav's remark explains why Ruhullah did not criticise the BJP in his speech. The BJP denies any involvement in the NC's internal differences. When a reporter noted that Madhav had ruled out forming a government with Ruhullah, Choudhary simply asked the BJP to clarify its stand.

Choudhary brushed aside speculation about a new political formation involving Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ruhullah and Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid, asking reporters since when they had become spokespersons for the three.

Earlier in the day, he laid the foundation stone for 68 roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, covering 495.48 km at a sanctioned cost of Rs 1,164.06 crore. The Jammu MP and MLAs attended. The projects aim to improve connectivity in rural and remote areas.

Why it matters: the dispute shows how contested Kashmir's political space remains, with statehood and special status still the main currency. Whether the row dents the NC's cohesion is the thing to watch. Read the original report at The Tribune.

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