Srinagar, Nov 4: A day after Srinagar MP Syed Aga Ruhullah Mehdi announced his resignation, ending his 24-year association with the National Conference (NC), the ruling party on Wednesday accused him of helping the BJP successfully execute its "Operation Lotus" in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing the media here, NC MLAs Salman Sagar and Sajjad Shaheen claimed that the BJP had succeeded in getting Ruhullah out of the party, drawing parallels with the poaching of MPs from other parties across the country.
"I say this with a heavy heart, not with happiness. The BJP has succeeded in getting Agha Ruhullah Sahib out," Sagar said, alleging that the 'Operation Lotus' used to make MPs leave their political parties had now reached Kashmir.
"The Operation Lotus that operates in Parliament to make MPs leave their political parties has now been witnessed in Kashmir. With Agha Sahib's help, the BJP's agenda has been fulfilled," he alleged.
Sagar said the developments were unfortunate for both the party and the people of Jammu and Kashmir, claiming that an organised effort was underway to weaken the NC and divide the people.
"There is an entire organised setup operating behind this, aimed at dividing the people of Jammu and Kashmir," Shaheen said, questioning why new political parties were suddenly emerging across Kashmir. He also cited BJP national vice-president Ram Madhav, who had claimed that Ruhullah was holding the rally with the blessings of "their people."
"Anyone who wants to become part of Operation Lotus will ultimately be humiliated. Whether it is an MLA or even someone like me, whoever joins hands with the BJP, works at its behest or maintains any association with it will face the same fate," Sagar said.
The two legislators rejected Ruhullah's criticism of the party's position on Article 370, Article 35A and reservation, maintaining that the NC had consistently pursued the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's special status.
Sagar said the party would neither compromise on its political position nor surrender the fight for the rights of the people. He cited the Autonomy Resolution passed in 1998 and subsequent resolutions and initiatives under Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah as evidence of the party's stand.
"The National Conference will never compromise. We will not commit political suicide. Nor will we morally distance ourselves from our position. We will never politically surrender Article 370, Article 35A or the special position of Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
Shaheen said the party had taken up the issue of autonomy and statehood after coming to power, while also initiating steps to address concerns over the reservation policy. He questioned why Ruhullah had not held the Lieutenant Governor or the BJP accountable over the delay in acting on the Cabinet sub-committee's recommendations on reservation.
The NC leaders also questioned Ruhullah's record as an MP, alleging that he had failed to use Parliament effectively to raise issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir.
Shaheen said that apart from collecting signatures of over 100 MPs for an impeachment motion against Allahabad High Court judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav, Ruhullah had not taken any comparable initiative in Parliament for the restoration of the region's special status.
"He has betrayed the party and his electorate," Shaheen said.
Sagar, meanwhile, questioned why Ruhullah had remained with the NC for nearly 25 years if he believed the party was not pursuing the issues he had raised after his resignation. He also accused him of targeting Omar Abdullah rather than taking up his grievances within the party.
The NC leaders further alleged that Ruhullah had remained silent on the role of the BJP and the PDP, which governed Jammu and Kashmir between 2015 and 2018.
Sagar said the BJP had taken decades to achieve its political objectives in Jammu and Kashmir and questioned the expectation that a Chief Minister heading a union Territory government could restore Article 370 within two months.
Ruhullah had resigned from the NC a day earlier after launching a sharp attack on its leadership, accusing it of failing to fulfil its promises on the restoration of special status and other issues.