Set to leave party, NC MP Ruhullah meets students at Kashmir University, calls for ‘restoring students’ voice’

Rebel National Conference (NC) Member of Parliament (MP) Aga Syed Ruhullah, who has threatened to leave the party in November this year, on Monday (October 5, 2026) met students at Kashmir University (KU), where the authorities have barred on-campus students’ politics since 2019.

“One concern was raised by almost everyone that students have no representation. Whether it’s an academic, hostel or administrative issue, there is no students’ union to take it up. A university without a student voice is incomplete. Students deserve a seat at the table,” said MP Ruhullah, after an unannounced tour of the campus.

Mr. Ruhullah said he spent time with the students on campus in Srinagar’s Hazratbal area. “The discussion covered the reservation policy, student activism, the role of students in active politics and the current state of education in J&K,” said MP Ruhullah.

The rebel NC MP has started an outreach in J&K ahead of the proposed resignation on November 3 this year from the party. He has repeatedly expressed unhappiness over the party’s failure to work towards its manifesto, which calls for restoration of special status under Article 370 to J&K.

Mr. Ruhullah’s decision to quit the party comes amid growing differences with J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, whom he has publicly criticised. The reason behind choosing November 3 to quit the party is that Mr. Ruhullah’s father Aga Syed Mehdi, who was a popular cleric, was assassinated by militants in a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in north Kashmir’s Magam road on November 3, 2000.