# J&K lost powers, leadership failed to reclaim them: NC MP Ruhullah 2026-08-24T00:35:16+00:00 | India | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet National Conference MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi said on Sunday that Jammu and Kashmir has continued to lose its powers over the years, while its political leadership has failed to regain them. Speaking to reporters in Baramulla, he said his criticism was not directed at any individual or party but reflected the broader political situation. Ruhullah questioned the NC's approach after it came to power, alleging the party had changed its position on rights lost after 2019. He said people trusted the NC in the 2024 Assembly elections based on commitments to restore those rights. 'Why can't I raise issues against the party? We are not slaves of the party,' he said. The MP questioned the growing focus on restoration of statehood, saying it is not the only issue on the NC's agenda. He recalled that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had earlier criticised those who focused only on statehood. Ruhullah said parties are accountable to the people and should remain open to questions from supporters. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Ruhullah's remarks expose a rare public rift within the National Conference over its post-2019 strategy. The party has long demanded restoration of Article 370 and statehood, but critics argue it has softened its stance since the 2024 assembly polls, where it won 42 seats. The real test will come when the central government tables the next round of interlocutor talks or a bill on J&K's political status, likely before the 2026 winter session. Watch for Omar Abdullah's response to this internal challenge. ## Coverage - greaterkashmir.com Straight news agency style, quoting MP directly without slant. This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference, Omar Abdullah Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/jk-lost-powers-leadership-failed-to-reclaim-them-nc-mp-ruhullah/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/jk-lost-powers-leadership-failed-to-reclaim-them-nc-mp-ruhullah/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/