Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi is an Indian politician from

Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir may refer to: * Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), a region administered by India as a union territory since 2019 * Jammu and Kashmir (state), a region administered by India as a state from 1952 to 2019 * Jammu and Kashmir (prin ...

who is currently serving as the member of parliament representing

Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency is one of the five Lok Sabha (parliamentary) constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), Jammu and Kashmir in northern India. Assembly segments Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency is composed of the follow ...

. He is the member of

Jammu & Kashmir National Conference The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) is a regional political party in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), Jammu and Kashmir union territory and Ladakh. Founded as the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference by ...

(JKNC). Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi is known for his opposition to the abrogation of

Article 370 Article 370 of the Indian constitution gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, a region located in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent and part of the larger region of Kashmir which has been the subject of a dispute between India, ...

and his advocacy for inclusive,

non-sectarian Nonsectarian institutions are secular institutions or other organizations not affiliated with or restricted to a particular religious group. Academic sphere Many North American universities identify themselves as being nonsectarian, such as B ...

politics in Jammu and Kashmir. He served three times as an MLA from

Budgam Budgam (), known as Badgom (; ) in Kashmiri, is a town in Budgam district in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. In the 2001 census, it was recorded as having a notified area committee,This gives the population of Budgam adga ...

and held ministerial positions in the Jammu and Kashmir government, including portfolios such as Science and Technology and Animal Husbandry. He is also a well known

Shia Muslim Shia Islam is the second-largest Islamic schools and branches, branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad in Islam, Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political Succession to Muhammad, successor (caliph) and as the spiritual le ...

cleric.

Early life

Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi was born into a prominent religious and political family in Budgam, Jammu and Kashmir. His family, the Aga Family, has deep roots in the Shia Muslim community of the region, with a legacy of religious scholarship and leadership. His father, Aga Syed Mehdi, was a respected cleric and politician who played a significant role in the development of region's religious and political landscape. Ruhullah Mehdi grew up in the environment of religious influence and political activism. He received his early education from

Tyndale Biscoe School Tyndale Biscoe School is a school in the Sheikh Bagh neighbourhood, in the Lal Chowk area of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), Jammu and Kashmir. The school was founded in 1880 CE and is one of the oldest schools in Jammu and Kash ...

. After the untimely demise of his father in 2000, Ruhullah Mehdi stepped into politics.

Political career

Aga Ruhullah's political career started in the year 2002, when he contested his first assembly election from

and won. He continued his winning streak in 2008 and 2014. In 2009, he was inducted in the State Cabinet and became the youngest ever cabinet Minister in India. Mehdi was nominated as the Chief Spokesperson of the National Conference in 2015. However, after Article 370 was repealed on 5 August 2019, he disassociated himself from the party's stand and accused the party of remaining silent over the circumstances in Jammu and Kashmir after August 5. He resigned from the post of chief spokesperson on 28 July 2020. In

2024 Lok Sabha election General elections were held in Elections in India, India from 2024 elections in India, 19 April to 1 June 2024 in seven phases, to elect all List of constituencies of the Lok Sabha, 543 members of the Lok Sabha. Votes were counted and the res ...

s, Mehdi contested from Srinagar constituency as National Conference candidate and won with a margin of 1.8 lakh votes.

Achievements

Aga Ruhullah, shot into prominence after 2019 for his outspoken and fiery speeches, against the abrogation of Article 370. In the Year 2006, he was Chosen by the US embassy for International Visitors Leadership Program in USA as youngest Indian Legislator. In 2010, he was awarded by Network 18, CNN-IBN as the Youngest Indian Leader.

In Parliament

* Raised the issues with different Ministries

MoHFW The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is an Indian government ministry charged with health policy in India. It is also responsible for all government programs relating to family planning in India. The Minister of Health and Family ...

INDIA regarding NHM doctors and paramedical . Also requested for CT scans in all district hospitals of J&K, particularly in Pulwama - Shopian & Budgam - Gandarbal district hospitals. * Demanded release of the hundreds of prisoners of J&K who are held without trials for years and also asked for the transfer of those who are under trials and not convicted yet, to the jails of Jammu and Kashmir * Introduced a

private member's bill A private member's bill is a bill (proposed law) introduced into a legislature by a legislator who is not acting on behalf of the executive branch. The designation "private member's bill" is used in most Westminster system jurisdictions, in wh ...

to enforce, implement and promote the complete prohibition of liquor and intoxicants in the Jammu & Kashmir.

References

Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Place of birth missing (living people) Jammu and Kashmir MLAs 2002–2008 Jammu and Kashmir MLAs 2008–2014 Jammu and Kashmir MLAs 2014–2018 Jammu & Kashmir National Conference politicians India MPs 2024–2029 People from Budgam district 1977 births Lok Sabha members from Jammu and Kashmir Tyndale Biscoe School alumni {{JammuKashmir-politician-stub