After Ruhullah's exit, NC faces fresh trouble as MLA Mubarak Gul hints at quitting

The National Conference (NC) is facing mounting internal dissent in Jammu and Kashmir, with six-time MLA Mubarak Gul set to address the media in Srinagar on Wednesday and announce his future course of action. The senior party leader is reportedly unhappy over being denied a ministerial berth in Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's recent Cabinet reshuffle, while his supporters have been protesting against the government.Gul's planned media address comes days after Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi announced his resignation from the National Conference and his Lok Sabha seat at a rally in Budgam. The developments have exposed growing differences within the ruling party, with the NC also trading sharp remarks with Ruhullah following his announcement.MUBARAK GUL TO ANNOUNCE FUTURE COURSE OF ACTIONGul, a senior NC leader and six-time MLA, represents the Eidgah Assembly constituency in Srinagar district. He has also served as the Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.The veteran legislator had expressed disappointment after being denied a ministerial berth in the recent Cabinet reshuffle carried out by Omar Abdullah. His supporters have since been staging protests in Srinagar against the Omar Abdullah-led government. Gul is expected to address the media on Wednesday and announce his next move. His decision comes at a time when the party is dealing with another major setback following Ruhullah's announcement that he would quit the party and his parliamentary seat.RUHULLAH RESIGNS, NC HITS BACKRuhullah announced his resignation from the National Conference and his Lok Sabha seat at a rally in Budgam on Tuesday, held to mark the 26th death anniversary of his father, Aga Syed Mehdi, who was assassinated in 2000. Following the announcement, the NC launched a sharp attack on the Srinagar MP, accusing him of hypocrisy, political opportunism, self-obsession and betraying the party that shaped his political career.In a strongly worded statement, the party described Ruhullah's speech at the rally as a reflection of his "mental and moral bankruptcy". It also criticised his use of what it called derogatory, abusive and unparliamentary language against the NC leadership."While invoking the Holy Quran and the divine message of dignity and respect for human beings, Ruhullah's speech was full of derogatory, abusive and unparliamentary language against the NC leadership. The language used by him only reflects who he is!" the party said.The NC also questioned Ruhullah's stand on the issues of special status, statehood and reservation rights, asking what concrete steps he had taken in Parliament to pursue these demands.The party asked whether he had attempted to mobilise MPs across party lines, move a resolution or introduce a Bill seeking restoration of special status and statehood.It also questioned his role in raising concerns over Jammu and Kashmir's current Union Territory arrangement, alleging that departments meant to function under the elected government were being run by the Lieutenant Governor.NC QUESTIONS RUHULLAH'S STAND ON SPECIAL STATUS, RESERVATIONDefending its position on Jammu and Kashmir's special status and statehood, the NC said restoration of statehood would never come at the expense of special status."Our thrust on restoration of statehood is not and will never be at the expense of special status. If it was so, the first transition of business of this government would not have been the special status. And the chief minister would not have reiterated it on August 15," the party said.It added that protecting Jammu and Kashmir's identity and constitutional rights remained central to its political ideology and its over 90-year-old legacy.The party also questioned Ruhullah's decision to raise the issue of the 2010 unrest, referring to his handing over of his resignation to the father of Tufail Mattoo, who was accidentally killed during riots that year.The NC alleged that Ruhullah had continued as a minister in 2010 until he was removed in a general reshuffle and had contested the 2014 Assembly elections on the party's ticket."He happily remained in office as a minister in 2010 until he was removed in a general reshuffle. He was happy to fight the elections in 2014 on a JKNC ticket and didn't remember 2010 then. In fact, he conveniently forgot all about it until 2026, 16 years later," the party said.On reservation, the NC questioned Ruhullah's silence towards the Lieutenant Governor and the Centre over what it described as alleged injustice to open-merit candidates. It said the party had fulfilled its electoral commitment by setting up a Cabinet sub-committee and initiating changes in the reservation framework, but alleged that the file had subsequently been stalled by the authorities.The NC also accused Ruhullah of working against the party's interests during the Budgam Assembly by-election, alleging that he contributed to its defeat while continuing to use the party's platform.It questioned how a leader who began his political career with the NC, served three terms as an MLA, became a minister and entered Parliament on its ticket could now disown the organisation.NC TAKES DIG AT BJP OVER RUHULLAH'S RESIGNATIONThe political row took another turn after BJP national vice-president Ram Madhav claimed that Ruhullah's rally in Budgam had the "blessings of our people".Speaking to reporters during a day-long visit to Jammu, Madhav said the National Conference was "visibly divided" and suggested that Ruhullah had held the rally with tacit support from BJP leaders."I would not like to comment on the matter, but the National Conference is visibly divided today. Ruhullah is holding the rally today with the blessings of our people," Madhav said.He, however, denied any direct BJP involvement in the NC's internal differences, adding that statements made by BJP MLAs were a separate matter and that the dispute was entirely internal to the National Conference.The NC responded with a cryptic post on its official X handle, saying, "Now we know why Ruhullah didn't have one word to say against the BJP." The party shared a video of Madhav's press conference along with the remark.The developments have put the NC leadership under pressure, with Gul's planned announcement on Wednesday adding another point of uncertainty for the party.- Ends