Srinagar, Oct 4: Member of Parliament from Srinagar, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, in a strongly worded statement on social media, lashed out at the BJP-led central government and its ideological parent body RSS, accusing them of creating divisions on paper but uniting people in “pain, suffering, subjugation and oppression.”
In his post, Ruhullah Mehdi said that while the abrogation of Article 370 and subsequent bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir in August 2019 geographically separated Kashmir and Ladakh, it has in reality created a shared experience of political and social disempowerment.
The BJP & RSS regime might have divided us (Kashmiris & Ladakhis) geographically on paper, but they have united us in pain and suffering, subjugation and oppression,” the MP wrote.
He emphasized that the hardships and injustices faced by Kashmiris for decades are now being echoed from Ladakh, where voices of discontent have been growing over issues of identity, representation, land rights, and autonomy.
The pain which the people in Kashmir have endured for a long time finds an expression from Ladakh today. We in Kashmir never wanted any other society to experience it. We only wanted to be heard,” Ruhullah added.
Highlighting the widening disillusionment across the country, the Srinagar MP said that many people outside Kashmir initially dismissed the grievances of Kashmiris as isolated. However, according to him, today communities across India are beginning to experience the same challenges of “injustice and suppression.”
When we cried injustice, everyone else thought that it’s only upon Kashmiris, it will never come upon us. But today from Ladakh (J&K) to Kanyakumari, people are slowly but surely being subjected to the miseries and subjugation that Kashmiris have been subjected to since long ago,” he wrote.
Ruhullah Mehdi concluded his message with an assurance of solidarity to the people of Ladakh, stating that Kashmiris will stand with them in their rightful struggle for dignity, rights, and justice.
I can assure my fellow citizens in Ladakh, though we were alone, but we won’t let you be alone in your (our) rightful cause and struggle,” he affirmed.
The statement comes at a time when Ladakh has been witnessing persistent protests and demonstrations by civil society groups and political leaders demanding constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule, statehood, and protection of jobs and land.
Political observers note that Ruhullah Mehdi’s message highlights an attempt to build broader solidarity between Kashmir and Ladakh against what he described as “centralized authoritarianism.”
