Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — National Conference MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi strongly criticised the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, for not mentioning Muslims in his speech. Speaking in Parliament on Monday, Mehdi asserted that merely restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood would not be enough—New Delhi must also reinstate the region’s pre-1953 status.
Referring to Gandhi’s speech in response to the President’s address, Mehdi pointed out that while the Opposition leader spoke about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and addressed concerns of OBCs and backward classes, he failed to mention the plight of Muslims. “Are Muslims only meant to be frightened by the BJP for votes? I want to make it clear that Muslims are not afraid of anyone,” Mehdi stated, as reported by Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
He further emphasised that restoring Article 370 alone would not suffice. “True justice will only be served when Jammu and Kashmir regains its pre-1953 autonomy,” he added, noting that many people are pinning their hopes on statehood but must not lose sight of full restoration of rights.
Mehdi also accused the BJP of misleading people about the benefits of revoking Article 370. He argued that elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir even before the abrogation, challenging the claim that its removal was necessary for democracy. “It is strange how people across the nation are being fooled. Article 370 was removed through an illegitimate process, and its removal has had serious consequences,” he said.
Citing statistical data, Mehdi underscored that under Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir had ranked sixth in the Human Development Index (HDI) with a score of 0.712—higher than several BJP-ruled states, including Haryana (0.702), Uttar Pradesh (0.596), Madhya Pradesh (0.606), and Gujarat (0.677).
He also highlighted key social indicators, stating that before the abrogation, Jammu and Kashmir had a life expectancy of 73.5 years, significantly higher than Gujarat’s 68 years. Additionally, the region’s gross enrollment ratio in higher education stood at 30.9%, surpassing Gujarat (20.4%), Uttar Pradesh (28.5%), and Bihar (14%).
Mehdi’s remarks underscored his firm stance on restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy and his concerns over political narratives surrounding the abrogation of Article 370. — With inputs from KNO
