Old remarks by NC MP Mehdi on tourism reignite controversy
The remarks of National Conference (NC) MP from Srinagar, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, given in January, in which he termed tourism in Kashmir as a “cultural invasion,” resurfaced and triggered a furore on social media a day after a dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives.
Ruhullah’s comments, made during an interview earlier this year, had previously stirred controversy both within Jammu and Kashmir and across the country, with critics accusing him of “playing with fire.” Following the Pahalgam attack, his remarks, along with the video of his interview, again went viral, drawing sharp criticism from users online.
A user on X posted alongside the old video, “Just a few days ago, National Conference’s MP from Srinagar, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, spoke against tourists coming to Kashmir — he called it a cultural invasion. And today, more than 27 tourists have been killed by Islamic terrorists in Kashmir. He must be made accountable.”
During the interview, Ruhullah had said, “What they call as tourism is not tourism in my view… in my view, this is cultural invasion by purpose and by design.”
Another user commented, “Imagine an MP from the ruling party of J&K saying ‘tourism in Kashmir is a cultural invasion on Kashmir.’ Shouldn’t he be fixed for exploiting religious sentiments of Muslims against the Indian nation?”
The BJP’s J&K unit had countered Ruhullah’s statements at the time. Sunil Sethi, then chief spokesperson of J&K BJP, had termed the remarks “detrimental and dangerous to the region’s tourism industry.”
Meanwhile, a user on X remarked, “Meet MP of Kashmir who sees TOURISM as CULTURAL INVASION. If this is his mindset, what will be of terrorists?”
Following the Pahalgam attack, Ruhullah issued a statement condemning the violence. He said, “Such acts of mindless violence are an affront to our shared humanity and stain the conscience of our society. Kashmir has always opened its arms to guests. Those who seek to poison this bond only betray the values we hold dear.”
