SRINAGAR: Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Saturday backed National Conference MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi and criticised the governing party for failing to honour its election promises.He urged all political parties in J&K to raise their voice for the restoration of Article 370 and statehood to the union territory.“I think it is not only Aga Ruhullah Sahib but all political parties, organisations should stand up for the rights of the people and constitutional guarantees,” Mirwaiz told reporters here.While Mirwaiz has consistently spoken about the “rights of the people of J&K,” this is perhaps the first time he has openly criticised the NC for abandoning its position on Article 370 and backed Mehdi, the Srinagar MP who has been vocal in demanding its restoration.Mirwaiz said priorities of the NC govt are different from what it promised to people during the 2024 assembly polls. “The rights of the people have been snatched away, Jammu & Kashmir has been divided, all our legal and constitutional commitments have been completely ignored,” he said.Mirwaiz said electricity, roads and development are important issues which the govt is concerned with. “But I think these are secondary issues. The real issue is that the very existence of the people of Jammu & Kashmir is under threat. At this juncture, all political parties in J&K should not only raise their voice for the restoration of statehood but also seek the restoration of Article 370, which was the basis accession (with India),” Mirwaiz said.He said all promises made to people of J&K from 1947 onwards by the union govt were subsequently reneged upon, including the constitutional guarantees.On Friday, Mehdi, who is also influential Shia cleric, announced he has decided to resign from both the NC and the Lok Sabha and will formally send his resignation letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker on Nov 3, the 26th death anniversary of his father Aga Syed Mehdi, who was killed by terrorists in an IED blast.Mehdi was responding to the NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah’s statement that he should resign and contest elections on his own rather than criticising the party for giving up on Article 370.Mehdi also shot off a letter to Dr Abdullah. “I am repeatedly sermonized about the impracticality of my political position. But what is Article 370, if not shorthand for the struggle to restore the dignity, honour, constitutional guarantees and liberties of our people? Nearly 65% of Jammu & Kashmir’s population is young, and their future is increasingly uncertain, with no jobs and opportunities. Our land is up for grabs.
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