Srinagar, Oct 31: Srinagar Member of Parliament and senior JKNC leader, Ruhullah Mehdi and PDP legislator Waheed Parra engaged in an online debate on social media that raised critical questions about parliamentary responsibilities and the political status of Jammu and Kashmir, focusing on the abrogation of Article 370 and the actions of local leaders.
Waheed Parra raised several points on X, questioning Aga Ruhullah Mehdi’s actions since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.
He asked why Mehdi did not propose a resolution in Parliament to condemn the abrogation, stating that such a move would have been a significant gesture in response to the change in Jammu and Kashmir’s political status. Parra also inquired why Mehdi introduced a bill to restrict liquor sales in Jammu and Kashmir instead of a bill focused on restoring Article 370.
He suggested that proposing a restoration bill could have opened a dialogue on a critical issue affecting the region.
Parra further criticized Mehdi for not pushing for legislation aimed at curbing the misuse of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). He pointed out that UAPA has faced criticism for its role in prolonged detentions without trial. He noted that with support from the INDIA alliance, there could be an opportunity to provide relief to those affected in Jammu and Kashmir. Additionally, Parra questioned why there was no formal protest or legislative action taken against the reservation policies that impact Jammu and Kashmir, suggesting this could have been a platform to voice concerns about these policies.
In response, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi explained that his struggle for the return of rights, including Article 370, is guided by his beliefs. He stated that proposing a resolution in Parliament could lead to its rejection, especially given the BJP majority, and he did not want to risk a negative outcome that would undermine the cause. He emphasized that he introduced the liquor bill to stimulate debate, as the BJP had declared Gujarat a dry state, indicating a potential opening for discussion in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mehdi mentioned that he submitted a question in Parliament regarding the revocation of both UAPA and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), and noted that it was not listed in the parliamentary business. He expressed that it is premature to expect immediate results after only one session in Parliament. He pointed out that addressing issues of reservation policies should occur within the parliamentary framework rather than through protests outside.
“I did not protest outside the parliament, in fact talked about it inside the parliament where it matters the most. I took them on inside the parliament. Now, since my party has formed the govt in J&K, I expect a collective and result oriented effort on this with all my colleagues. I understood the matter before my election, committed myself to it during the election and stood by my commitment after being elected to the Parliament. Also when assembly elections were announced, I took this matter to my party and it gracefully agreed to it and made it the part of the manifesto. Now, after being elected to the assembly, I am sure my party is as committed to it as it was before. I have no confusion about it. I have never tweeted (X) and then deleted my statement about it. By the way, I missed your opinion about the reservation during the elections. What was it during the elections?,” he said.
“P.S: I like being put under a regular scrutiny for the cause of 370. That’s what I wanted from the day one. We all start talking about it and asking for the return of it. When I tweeted about it from inside the house arrest when 2G was restored, I was alone. Today I am happy that I am being scrutinised by a large numbers of people whether I am still committed to the cause or not,” he wrote.—(News Vibes of India)
