Srinagar, Oct 30: National Conference (NC) leader Aga Syed Ruhullah on Friday said he is considering a fresh political beginning based on principles and conviction, accusing the party’s leadership of abandoning its ideology and the NC-led government of reneging on its promises to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He also indicated that he may contest the by-election to the Srinagar-Budgam parliamentary seat following his resignation.
In an interview with ‘India Today’, Ruhullah said he was taking a conscious decision driven by conviction, based on principles.
“I would be nervous continuing with betrayals, with confusion, with an organisation and government that has taken a U-turn,” he said.
Ruhullah said that the organisation and the government doesn’t even think about its people and the promises it made to them, doesn’t give principles and politics any importance.
He said that people of Jammu and Kashmir need to take a collective decision whether they continue with this system of betrayal or challenge it and bring an end to it, bring some character to politics, bring an element of principles and politics that one needs to take tough decisions at time.
However, Ruhullah said that it was not a tough decision for him but the people of Jammu and Kashmir need to start fresh and make a change from the grassroots.
He said that before forming a political group or joining any political party, he would like to assemble a group of people with conviction and character.
“If we want to challenge that politics, the only way to do that is to bring character and conviction in politics. I would want to find people who would be trustworthy for this cause and handle that organisation in the future and deliver to the people,” Ruhullah said.
He said that he will find people who will be fit for the job and go to the people to get a stamp of approval by contesting polls.
Ruhullah said that he may also contest the by-elections for the Srinagar-Budgam parliamentary seat after resigning.
He also said that he does not want the disgruntled NC legislators to come along with him as they would leave the party for not being given the cabinet portfolio not on the issue of principles.
However, Ruhullah said that there are some people who believe in principles but for them to come along they would need to show conviction and courage, and take an initiative to lose power temporarily.
He said that the life of NC is dependent on the physical life of NC President Farooq Abdullah.
“It will not survive after him and it is already showing,” Ruhullah said. “It is very difficult for me to see as someone who has grown in this party and worked for 25 years. I always believed that this party had the potential to deliver but it is painful to see that the people who have taken control of this party have taken it away from its principles and ideology. I don’t see this party surviving anymore.”
