The national conference on Tuesday slammed its party leader and current MP from Srinagar, Aga Ruhullah, for leading the student protest against the reservation policy.
The protest was also joined by several opposition leaders and legislators, members of the civil society in Kashmir Valley.
Speaking with reporters at NC headquarters in Srinagar, Salman Sagar said that if the MP believes that he can do it, then that’s his prerogative; however, this was not the National Conference’s initiative.
Salman said that “the party only organises protests after instructions from the senior leadership, like Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, or after directives from the top leadership.”
“Salman said the protest was a platform for the party’s opposition. “It was gathering of our adversaries, of our enemies.
It’s a sad state of affairs that one of our MPs was present there, allowing them to exploit the situation,” Salman said, adding that such actions inadvertently strengthen the position of political rivals like the PDP.
Salman also accused the protest organisers of failing to consider better ways to address grievances. “If grievances truly required to be redressed, there were better and dignified ways to address them. What happened yesterday, in my opinion, was purely a drama. It didn’t benefit anyone,” he added.
Salman assertively said, “I openly declare in front of you that I stand with the students of the open merit category. Their grievances must be addressed based on their population percentage. However, we will not allow politics to be played on this issue.”
He also took a jibe at political opportunism, stating that the protest gave a platform to individuals who have no real stake in the issue.
“People with no mandate, those who have been rejected by the public with barely 200 votes, were speaking on behalf of thousands or even millions. This kind of behaviour undermines genuine efforts,” Salman said.
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