NC MP Ruhullah Mehdi backs Jantar Mantar protest, demands Article 370 restoration
Synopsis
NC MP Ruhullah Mehdi will join his party's Jantar Mantar protest — but on his own terms. His insistence that Article 370 restoration, not just statehood, be the centrepiece exposes a live fault line within the National Conference, nearly six years after the abrogation reshaped Jammu and Kashmir's political landscape.
Key Takeaways
NC Lok Sabha MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi confirmed he will join the party's Jantar Mantar protest.
He insisted Article 370 restoration must be the core demand — not merely statehood.
Ruhullah Mehdi called for a sustained political campaign, warning against a one-day symbolic event.
He raised concerns over land rights, jobs, and reservation policies for Jammu and Kashmir residents in the post- 2019 period.
The MP has been estranged from NC leadership since alleging the party failed to fulfil its 2024 election manifesto promises.
Estranged National Conference (NC) Lok Sabha member Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi said on Tuesday that he will participate in the party's upcoming protest at Jantar Mantar, but insisted that the restoration of Article 370 — stripped from Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 — must remain the central demand of the demonstration. His remarks came during an interaction with reporters in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir.
Beyond a One-Day Event
While confirming his participation, Ruhullah Mehdi cautioned against reducing the protest to a single-day political gesture. He called for a sustained, organised movement that goes beyond the demand for statehood to include the restoration of constitutional protections that existed before the August 2019 abrogation. “Permanent peace,” he said, can only be achieved through “justice” — not symbolic measures.
He underlined the need for a continuous political campaign that reflects the broader concerns of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, arguing that a solitary protest would fall far short of what the situation demands.
Grievances on Land, Jobs and Reservations
The NC MP raised a series of specific concerns affecting residents in the post-2019 period. He alleged that locals are being deprived of their due share in land rights, employment, and reservation policies. Citing examples from rural areas, including Pulwama, he said restrictions affecting agriculture and livelihoods point to what he described as alleged systemic injustice.
Ruhullah Mehdi also flagged the difficulties faced by the younger generation since the reorganisation of the erstwhile state, arguing that unresolved grievances among youth make lasting peace harder to achieve. He maintained that key political and administrative commitments remain unfulfilled, and while improved governance could ease tensions, it cannot substitute for addressing the root causes of public dissatisfaction.
Rift with NC Leadership
Ruhullah Mehdi has been at odds with the NC leadership for some time, having alleged that the party has not done enough to honour the promises made in its election manifesto — the same manifesto that helped bring the party to power in Jammu and Kashmir in 2024. The leadership has reportedly not been inviting him to party meetings, and he too has maintained a deliberate distance from internal party affairs.
This public friction makes his decision to join the Jantar Mantar protest notable — but his conditions signal that the rift is far from healed. The protest, as he envisions it, must carry a sharper constitutional edge than the party may have intended.
What Comes Next
The NC's Jantar Mantar demonstration is set to draw attention to Jammu and Kashmir's political status, but Ruhullah Mehdi's insistence on centering Article 370 restoration could complicate the party's messaging. Whether the leadership accommodates his demand or proceeds with a broader statehood focus will determine the protest's political weight. All eyes are now on how the NC navigates this internal divergence ahead of the event.
Point of View
He is forcing the NC to choose between political pragmatism and the constitutional maximalism that won it the 2024 election. The party's reluctance to include him in meetings suggests leadership would prefer to manage rather than amplify his position. But his grassroots credibility in constituencies like Pulwama means sidelining him carries its own cost. The deeper question is whether the NC's Jantar Mantar protest becomes a genuine pressure campaign or a photo opportunity — and Ruhullah Mehdi has made clear he will not settle for the latter.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NC's Jantar Mantar protest about?
The National Conference is organising a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to press political demands related to Jammu and Kashmir, primarily focused on restoring statehood. MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi has insisted that Article 370 restoration must also be a central demand of the demonstration.
Why is Ruhullah Mehdi estranged from the NC leadership?
Ruhullah Mehdi has alleged that the National Conference has not done enough to fulfil the promises made in its 2024 election manifesto. The party leadership has reportedly stopped inviting him to internal meetings, and he has maintained a distance from party affairs.
What is Ruhullah Mehdi's demand beyond statehood?
Beyond restoring Jammu and Kashmir's statehood, Ruhullah Mehdi is demanding the reinstatement of Article 370 and the constitutional protections that existed before the August 2019 abrogation, including rights related to land, jobs, and reservations for local residents.
What concerns has Ruhullah Mehdi raised about post-2019 Jammu and Kashmir?
He has flagged alleged deprivation of locals in land rights, employment, and reservation policies, citing examples from rural areas including Pulwama. He has also raised concerns about the difficulties faced by the younger generation since the reorganisation of the erstwhile state.
Will a single protest be enough, according to Ruhullah Mehdi?
No. Ruhullah Mehdi has explicitly said a single protest will not suffice and has called for a sustained, organised political campaign. He argued that justice — not symbolic gestures — is the only path to permanent peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
