JKNS DESK
Srinagar, Oct 20 (JKNS): National Conference Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Tuesday alleged that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir had become increasingly hostile for its people since 2019, arguing that claims of normalisation were contradicted by incidents of harassment, attacks on Kashmiris and continued political and economic concerns.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, as per news agency JKNS, Ruhullah referred to the recent attack on a bus carrying Kashmiri passengers in Karnal, Haryana, and said Kashmiris were facing an atmosphere of suspicion and hostility both within Jammu and Kashmir and in other parts of the country.
He said the situation had not normalised since 2019, alleging instead that the relationship between the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union government had become more strained.
Ruhullah also raised concerns over the verification regime, the treatment of Kashmiris on highways and the continued detention of people without trial. He alleged that thousands of people remained in jails on the basis of suspicion and said these issues had contributed to a sense of insecurity among the people.
Referring to the Karnal incident, he said the alleged targeting of Kashmiri passengers reflected the challenges faced by Kashmiris outside the Union Territory as well. He blamed the BJP for what he described as an atmosphere of hostility and harassment against the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
**‘Democracy Must Be Reclaimed’**
Commenting on protests by students and activists over issues concerning the Election Commission, Ruhullah said the demonstrations reflected an attempt to reclaim democratic space and seek accountability.
He referred to the reported detention of activists and restrictions imposed during protests, drawing comparisons with the restrictions Kashmir had witnessed in the past. He said demands for accountability over allegations concerning the Election Commission should be addressed through democratic and institutional processes.
Ruhullah said the demands being raised included the resignation of the concerned Election Commissioner, criminal proceedings over the allegations and a review of elections conducted under the Commission’s supervision.
He argued that such demands reflected wider concerns about democratic institutions and accountability, adding that peaceful public participation was important for safeguarding constitutional values.
**Questions Government’s Stand on Article 370**
On the abrogation of Article 370, Ruhullah said describing the decision as wrong was not enough and questioned what political parties and the government were doing to reverse it through constitutional, democratic and peaceful means.
He said many people in Kashmir considered the abrogation unjustified, but stressed that the key question was what concrete steps were being taken to challenge the decision.
The MP also expressed disappointment over what he described as the lack of progress on major political and governance-related concerns during the past two years.
Listing issues including restoration of statehood, employment, electricity, reservation, students’ concerns, medical interns’ demands, prisoners and the protection of local jobs, he questioned the government’s performance and asked on what grounds people could feel satisfied with its record.
Ruhullah said students and medical interns had returned to protests over unresolved demands, while those raising concerns about reservation and other issues continued to face disappointment.
He also criticised what he described as attempts to discourage discussion on constitutional guarantees and the political future of Jammu and Kashmir.
The MP maintained that concerns over political rights, governance and the treatment of Kashmiris needed to be addressed, asserting that people should not lose hope in the pursuit of democratic rights and accountability. (JKNS)
