People deserve to know who cross-voted: Ruhullah to CM

Srinagar, Oct 25: In a blistering critique of his own party leadership, Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, questioning his refusal to disclose the names of legislators who cross-voted during the recent Rajya Sabha elections.

Ruhullah said that the Chief Minister’s claim that he knows who cross-voted but would not reveal their names “amounts to treating public trust as private property.”

“I am not privy to any such information. But what the CM said today proves that he knows who cross-voted. If he knows, then he should also name them. This is not a private shop that you can run by your own rules. This is a matter of public trust, the trust of the people who elected their representatives,” he said.

Ruhullah asserted that the votes cast by legislators in such elections belong to the people and not to any political leader or party.

“The relationship between a legislator and the people is based on trust and mandate. If any legislator has betrayed that trust by casting a wrong vote, then the people have every right to know. Hiding such information only deepens suspicion. Even the innocent will remain under the shadow of doubt unless truth is made public,” he said.

In an open dissent within the party, Ruhullah said the CM should understand that transparency is not optional.

“If this betrayal has happened, then the people deserve to know who betrayed them. The CM saying he won’t name them shows a lack of respect for public accountability. This cannot be treated as a private or internal affair of a party. It concerns the people’s will,” he said, urging CM Omar to come clean and name those who cross-voted.

When asked about whether parties like NC, Congress, PDP, and AIP, who had supported a common candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls, should form a joint front for larger political issues, Ruhullah said that unity for survival should be above party politics.

“That is my cry. When will we be serious about our fight for survival? This is not just about parties but about our collective existence. Party-level fights are fine, but the question now is of our collective survival,” he said.

Ruhullah said that despite the fragmentation of political voices, the people of J&K had given a clear mandate to one party, the NC, hoping it would lead the fight for their rights and dignity after the constitutional changes of 2019.

“The people of J&K gave a strong mandate to NC, thinking that a single-party majority would end confusion and division. But even after a year, that mandate hasn’t been honoured. There is frustration among people, and we must acknowledge it,” he said.

Ruhullah questioned the NC’s lack of visible action on issues that directly affect the people.

“What has been done in this one year by the NC government? Forget major governance reforms; at least show some intent, some direction. People had expectations that the party, which sought votes in the name of dignity and rights, would begin working on that immediately. But nothing has moved,” he said.

Referring to reports linking his name to the upcoming Budgam bypolls, Ruhullah said such attributions were false and baseless.

“Every time I hear these statements being attributed to me, that I am supporting the party candidate, I am shocked. I have never made such a statement. Before nominations were even filed, I wanted to ask my party leadership: what will I tell my people? What have we done in one year to deserve their support again?” he said.

Taking a swipe at CM Omar’s recent assertion that he would not succumb to public pressure, Ruhullah said that genuine leaders were meant to be accountable to people’s demands.

“The CM says he won’t bow to pressure. But those who don’t bow to genuine public pressure are dictators. Listening to the people is not a weakness; it is leadership. An elected CM must listen even more,” he said.

Ruhullah mocked what he called the party’s changing stances on key issues like electricity metering. “During last year’s campaign, NC leaders, including CM, told people they would throw electric meters into the river. Today, they defend them, saying even our relatives use meters. This hypocrisy is what distances people from leadership,” he said.

Ruhullah said he cannot be part of any betrayal of public faith.

“They can betray people, but I cannot. I’ve learned politics from those who believed in truth and accountability. Politics is not about silence or convenience. It’s about standing with people even when it costs you politically,” he said.