Srinagar, Dec 24, : National Conference leader and Hazratbal MLA Salman Ali Sagar Monday openly criticized the participation of the party’s Srinagar MP, Aga Ruhullah, in a recent protest over the reservation policy. Salman clarified that the demonstration, which was also joined by opposition leaders, was not sanctioned by the NC and reflected individual action rather than party policy.
While talking to reporters, Salman Sagar said, “This protest was not a National Conference initiative. It was entirely Aga Ruhullah’s decision to participate, and it does not represent the party’s stance.” He stressed that NC protests are only organized under instructions from top leaders such as Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, or directives from the general secretary’s office.
Salman accused the protest organizers of using the event as a platform for the party’s adversaries, inadvertently strengthening the position of rival political groups like the Peoples Democratic Party. “This was a gathering of our enemies, and unfortunately, one of our MPs allowed them a stage to exploit the situation,” he said.
Criticizing the nature of the protest, Salman Sagar labeled it as “drama” that did little to address the real concerns of the people. “If there were genuine grievances, they could have been resolved through better channels. This protest only created unnecessary drama,” he said.
Reiterating the party’s support for the open merit category students, Salman clarified that the NC is committed to addressing their grievances responsibly. “We stand with the open merit category students and believe their concerns should be addressed fairly, based on population percentages. However, we won’t allow political point-scoring on this issue,” he stated.
Salman also questioned the credibility of those participating in the protest, pointing out that individuals with no public mandate were taking the stage to speak on significant issues. “Those who have been rejected by the people and received minimal support in elections cannot claim to represent thousands or millions,” he added.
He expressed concern about the protest’s impact on party discipline and internal unity, warning that such actions could damage the party’s credibility.
