New Delhi, December 9: National Conference (NC) Member of Parliament (MP) from Srinagar, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, delivered a sharp critique of the current political environment in the Lok Sabha, asserting that the Muslim community, which played a pivotal role in the nation’s freedom struggle, is equally equipped to fight for its “freedom within” the country.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Speaking during a recent session, the MP accused the Union government of using cultural nationalism and identity politics to evade accountability on key issues like unemployment and inflation.
Weaponising Patriotism and Identity
Aga Ruhullah’s speech focused on the alleged weaponisation of patriotic symbols and the policing of Muslim identity, linking these actions directly to the government’s inability to deliver on governance promises.
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Evading Accountability: “When a government cannot answer questions on jobs, inflation or governance, it turns to identity. Songs become tests. Demolitions become justice,” he stated, condemning the narrative that frames dissent as disloyalty and perpetually casts Muslims as “outsiders.”
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Historical Context: He robustly defended the community’s commitment to India by citing their participation in the independence movement. “Muslims fought for freedom of the nation… and if they can fight for the freedom of the nation, they can also fight for the freedom within,” the MP declared, emphasizing the constitutional rights of the community.
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The ‘Vande Mataram’ Context: His remarks came amidst a broader debate on nationalism and mandatory displays of patriotism, where he championed the constitutional right to freedom of speech, choice, and religion. He argued that insisting on the compulsory recitation of certain chants runs against the foundational principles of the Constitution.
Defence of India’s Core Values
The Srinagar MP framed the ongoing struggle not just as a defence of Muslim rights, but as a fight to preserve India’s core secular and democratic values.
“We Muslims have shed blood for India’s freedom, and we will do it again to preserve the secular, constitutional character of this republic.”
He stressed that the current approach by the ruling party represents a “broader attempt to disempower Muslims” and reduce them to second-class citizens, warning that this trend threatens the equality and religious freedom guaranteed to all citizens.
Concluding Remarks
Aga Ruhullah Mehdi concluded his passionate address by reaffirming the Muslim community’s unwavering commitment to the Indian Constitution and its democratic structure, ensuring that his fiery debut speech marked a significant intervention in the ongoing national discourse on identity, patriotism, and governance.
