Srinagar: A group of concerned citizens from the Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency has filed a petition calling for the disqualification of their Member of Parliament, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi.
The petition, addressed to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Election Commission of India, and the Director General of Police, Jammu & Kashmir, alleges that Mehdi’s recent remarks in a televised interview have contributed to a dangerous ideological environment that may have emboldened extremist violence, including the recent massacre in Pahalgam.
The petition comes in the wake of the tragic Pahalgam attack on April 22, where 26 innocent tourists were brutally killed by terrorists. In a chilling justification issued after the attack, the TRF claimed the act was in response to what they termed a “demographic onslaught” and “cultural invasion” in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a recent interview, Mehdi had described the growing influx of tourists and new settlers into Kashmir not as development, but as a deliberate “cultural invasion.” He claimed that a “particular set of people” were being brought in “by design” to disturb the cultural environment of the region. Further, he alleged that the RSS was behind a broader strategy aimed at erasing Kashmiri Muslim identity, drawing comparisons with past events in Punjab.
According to the petitioners, such statements do not merely represent political dissent but amount to an ideological prelude that aligns disturbingly with the narratives of terrorist outfits. They argue that Mehdi’s words have the effect of legitimizing extremist views and providing indirect justification for acts of terror under the guise of cultural preservation. The petition emphasizes that while the freedom of speech is fundamental, it cannot be used as a shield for speech that enables or rationalizes violence.
Citing constitutional provisions, the petition appeals for Mehdi’s disqualification from the Lok Sabha, claiming he has violated the spirit of his oath and undermined national sovereignty. It also urges the Election Commission to examine whether his remarks breach electoral laws by promoting enmity and divisiveness, and requests the police to investigate any links between his statements and the terror attack, potentially invoking provisions under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The signatories describe this petition as a civic duty in defense of democracy and peace. They express deep concern that when elected representatives use their platforms to echo the justifications of terrorists, they blur the line between political speech and ideological provocation.
There has been no official response from Aga Ruhullah Mehdi at the time of this report, but the petition is expected to spark significant debate across political and civil society circles.
