Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, July 29: Chief spokesman of National Conference and influential Shia leader from central Kashmir’s Budgam district, Aga Ruhullah, tendering his resignation has jolted Kashmir’s grand old party.
Ruhullah resigned a day after Omar’s Oped appeared in a national daily in which he had stated that he won’t contest the assembly elections till J&K remains a Union Territory.
“I have sent across my resignation from the post of Chief Spokesperson of @JKNC_ . From here on none of my statements should be considered as such,” Ruhullah, who is a three-time former legislator tweeted on Tuesday.
Soon after Ruhullah tendered his resignation, Omar stated that he had never demanded restoration of statehood and he had only stated that he won’t contest the elections. He lashed out at the journalists and commentators “for putting words in his mouth.”
Responding to a tweet which read, ‘chief spokesperson of JKNC resigns from his post as Omar Abdullah demands statehood’, Omar Abdullah said, “Please show me where in my piece or in the interview I’ve demanded statehood.”
“I have no problem being disagreed with for what I say or do but when you invent things & put words in my mouth to attack me then that’s more about you than about me. All you lazy journalists & commentators please show me where I’ve demanded statehood be restored,” Omar had written on twitter.
An analyst while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “Someone needs to tell Omar Abdullah that journalists and commentators just commented upon the piece he had written. So how come they are to be blamed for putting the words in his mouth.”
He said, “It seems Omar tested waters by writing a piece in national daily. It appears that he had not thought that one of his party leaders would react so sharply and say goodbye to National Conference.”
It may be recalled that Ruhullah had reacted in a similar manner when his another party colleague and close aide of Omar Abdullah, Tanveer Sadiq had written an article demanding restoration of 4G internet service and J&K’s statehood.
Ruhullah at that point time had said that silence of all the political parties on abrogation of the Article 370 is injustice with the people of Jammu & Kashmir. “It is not only the National Conference which is silent. Every other political party is silent. Honestly speaking, unfortunately the entire society is silent after August 5. This silence is proving counter-productive,” he had stated.
An observer said that since the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A, NC has remained intact as none of its leaders shifted their loyalties. “Despite top party leaders being jailed, others remained associated with the party. The NC didn’t crumble like its bête-noire PDP. But Ruhullah’s resignation can open the floodgates. Omar seems to have realized it and he has started talking about J&K’s special status and Centre’s last year’s decision,” he added.
