Fresh friction in NC as Ruhullah Mehdi questions Omar Abdullah over US envoy meet
National Conference Lok Sabha MP Ruhullah Mehdi on Saturday questioned Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's meeting with US Ambassador Sergio Gor, saying Washington had no role in Jammu and Kashmir's internal affairs.
Mehdi's remarks came days after Gor visited Srinagar and described Jammu and Kashmir as "an important part of India" during his visit on August 19.
"If I were to receive legitimacy from the US ambassador, I would throw that legitimacy into the river," Mehdi said, questioning why India should seek approval from the US on matters concerning Jammu and Kashmir.
He also criticised the US over its role in conflicts involving Israel and said he wanted to know whether Abdullah had raised the issue of civilian deaths in Palestine, Iran, Yemen and Lebanon during his meeting with the ambassador.
"When the ambassador of that murderous regime came here, did you, on behalf of your people, ask him why they, and their ally Israel, are committing unjust killings in Palestine and Iran?" Mehdi asked.
The Srinagar MP said the people of Jammu and Kashmir viewed the US and Israel as responsible for the violence and maintained that his opposition to their actions remained unchanged.
Mehdi hits out at NC leadership
Mehdi, who has been critical of the National Conference leadership in recent months, also rejected calls from some party leaders for his resignation.
He said he had been elected with a mandate to fight for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's constitutional rights and that his role was not limited to demanding statehood.
"Today, I am asking the party to fight that same battle, but, in response, I am told to resign," he said.
Mehdi accused the party leadership of weakening its position on the issue, saying the focus had shifted from Article 370 and constitutional safeguards to statehood and administrative matters.
He said the party should issue him a formal show-cause notice if it believed he had violated its ideology or official position.
"At least they should issue a show-cause notice," Mehdi said, adding that he would respond to specific allegations against him.
He also accused the NC leadership of arrogance and said it was responsible for creating confusion among people.
(With inputs from PTI)
