Ruhullah accountable to party for his recent actions: Dr Farooq

Srinagar, Nov 15: National Conference (NC) President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said that Srinagar Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi is accountable to the party for his recent actions, asserting that the mandate he holds is owed to the NC’s symbol and support base.

Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah said that Ruhullah’s political position is tied to the party’s identity. “He is an MP because of the plough. He should respect it, value it and work to strengthen it. Our workers put in tremendous effort. We secured a significant number of votes. Winning and losing are part of political life,” he said.

Reacting to NC’s defeat in the Budgam Assembly bypoll, Abdullah said the party must view the result as an opportunity for introspection rather than a setback. “This should be taken as a lesson. We must look at where we fell short. There is no need to panic. Defeat teaches you to improve, and we will address whatever weaknesses came to the fore,” he said.

The Budgam by-election saw the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clinch the seat for the first time, defeating the NC candidate by 4,478 votes. The constituency, traditionally regarded as an NC bastion, went to the polls after former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vacated it to retain the Ganderbal seat.

On the tragic explosion at Nowgam Police Station, Abdullah expressed deep concern over the handling of explosive material at the site. “This is our mistake. People who understand the nature of such materials should have been consulted before attempting to deal with it. The result is the loss of nine precious lives and widespread damage to the houses nearby,” he said.

He said the tragedy comes at a time when Kashmiris are already facing scrutiny across the country. “People have not yet come out of the situation in Delhi, where fingers are being raised at every Kashmiri. When will the day come when they accept that we are Indians and stop blaming us? Questions must be asked of those responsible for why the situation escalated to this point. A thorough study and investigation are needed,” he added.