Srinagar, Oct 20 (KNO): National Conference MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi on Tuesday said Kashmiris continue to face hostility both within Jammu and Kashmir and in other parts of the country, blaming the BJP for the situation since 2019.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Ruhullah, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), questioned claims of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir, citing the recent incident involving a bus carrying Kashmiri passengers in Haryana's Karnal, the verification regime, detentions and difficulties faced by Kashmiris travelling on highways.
"Has the situation really normalised when our buses are being attacked and our people are being killed?" he asked.
Ruhullah alleged that people from Jammu and Kashmir were increasingly being treated with suspicion both within the Union Territory and elsewhere in the country.
"The people of Jammu and Kashmir have been made suspects in their own areas. The verification regime is an example of this," he said.
He also raised concerns over prisoners allegedly being held without trial, claiming that thousands remained incarcerated on the basis of suspicion.
Referring to difficulties faced by Kashmiris travelling on highways, he alleged that those travelling from south Kashmir to Srinagar encounter a hostile environment.
Ruhullah said the responsibility for this hostility lies with the BJP and argued that the relationship between Jammu and Kashmir and the Union had not been normalised since 2019.
Commenting on recent protests, including those by students and medical interns, he described them as a genuine effort to reclaim democratic space.
"These are genuine protests. And now it seems that democracy is starting to breathe," he said.
The Srinagar MP also questioned what governments and political parties had done to reverse the abrogation of Article 370, saying acknowledging it as a wrong decision was not enough without concrete action.
"Everyone knows that the abrogation was wrong. You know, I know. Most of the people in India know," he said.
Ruhullah criticised the focus on statehood, arguing that it should not replace efforts to address broader political and constitutional issues.
He also expressed dissatisfaction with the government's performance on governance and public commitments, citing concerns over electricity, employment, reservations, protection of jobs, and issues affecting students and medical interns.
"Unfortunately, all the people of Kashmir have been disappointed," he said.
Referring to the ongoing protests by students and medical interns, Ruhullah said the demonstrations reflected unresolved grievances and disappointment over assurances that had failed to deliver results.
He said the government and political parties needed to demonstrate concrete action on constitutional demands, governance and issues affecting the people of Jammu and Kashmir—(KNO)