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{{Short description|Kashmiri politician (born 1976)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}
{{infobox officeholder
| name = Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi
| image = Ruhullah Mehdi.jpg
| caption = Mehdi in 2024
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1976|08|12}}
| birth_place = [[Budgam]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], India
| father = [[Aga Syed Mehdi]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Nayereh Eslamiakram|2024}}
| children = 1
| alma_mater = [[Tyndale Biscoe School]], [[University of Kashmir]]
| party = [[Jammu & Kashmir National Conference]]
| office = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| constituency = [[Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency|Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir]]
| term_start = 4 June 2024
| term_end =
| predecessor = [[Farooq Abdullah]]
| office1 = [[Member of Legislative Assembly (India)|Member]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly]]
| term_start1 = 8 October 2002
| term_end1 = 20 June 2018
| constituency1 = [[Budgam Assembly constituency|Budgam]]
| predecessor1 = Syed Ghulam Hussain Gilani
| successor1 = [[Omar Abdullah]]
| office2 = [[Cabinet Minister]] in [[Government of Jammu and Kashmir|Jammu and Kashmir]]
| 1blankname2 = Chief Minister
| 1namedata2 = [[Omar Abdullah]]
| 2blankname2 = Ministry and Departments
| 2namedata2 = {{bulletedlist|[[Science and technology]]|[[Animal husbandry]]}}
| term_start2 = 5 January 2009
| term_end2 = 8 January 2015
| governor2 = [[N. N. Vohra]]
| successor2 = [[Sajjad Gani Lone]]
}}
'''Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi''' (born 12 August 1976) is an Indian politician from [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] who is currently serving as the [[member of parliament (India)|member of parliament]] representing the [[Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency]]. Ruhullah Mehdi also serves as Member of the Committee on Personnel, Public, Grievances, Law and Justice. He is the member of [[Jammu & Kashmir National Conference]] (JKNC). Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi is known for his opposition to the abrogation of [[Article 370]] and his advocacy for inclusive, [[non-sectarian]] politics in Jammu and Kashmir. He served as an MLA from [[Budgam Assembly constituency|Budgam]]<ref>{{cite news|date=December 23, 2014|title=Full list of winners and losers in Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections|work=India TV News|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/politics/national/winners-and-losers-in-jammu-kashmir-assembly-elections-24157.html}}</ref> three times and held ministerial positions in the Jammu and Kashmir government, including portfolios such as Science and Technology and Animal Husbandry. He belongs to the [[Shia Islam|Shia]] [[Islam|Muslim religion]].

==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]]. After the untimely demise of his father in 2000, Ruhullah Mehdi stepped into politics.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2024-06-04 |title=From Tragedy To Controversy: Ruhullah's Rise As A Politician |url=https://kashmirobserver.net/2024/06/04/from-tragedy-to-controversy-ruhullahs-rise-as-a-politician/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Kashmir Observer |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hussain |first=Masood |date=2020-08-04 |title='I Cannot Forget That Horrible Day, I Broke Down' |url=https://kashmirlife.net/i-cannot-forget-that-horrible-day-i-broke-down-241777/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Kashmir Life |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=KNS |date=2023-11-03 |title=Dr Farooq Abdullah visits Aga Ruhullah's residence, pays tributes to late Aga Syed Mehdi |url=https://www.knskashmir.com/dr-farooq-abdullah-visits-aga-ruhullah-s-residence--pays-tributes-to-late-aga-syed-mehdi-182397 |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=KNS |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Political career==
Aga Ruhullah's political career started in the year 2002, when he contested his first assembly election from [[Budgam]] 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.<ref>https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/aga-syed-ruhullah-mehdi-meet-the-face-behind-ncs-success-in-jk-elections-12845033.html/amp</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ganai |first=Naseer |date=2024-07-05 |title=Ruhullah Mehdi, Rising Star of Kashmir's Politics |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/national/ruhullah-mehdi-rising-star-of-kashmirs-politics |access-date=2024-10-17 |language=en}}</ref>

In [[2024 Lok Sabha election]]s, Mehdi contested from Srinagar constituency as National Conference candidate and won with a margin of 1.8 lakh votes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ashiq |first=Peerzada |date=2024-04-12 |title=National Conference fields Omar Abdullah from Baramulla, Shia cleric Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi from Srinagar |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jammu-and-kashmir/nc-fields-omar-from-baramulla-shia-cleric-mehdi-from-srinagar-seats/article68057363.ece |access-date=2024-10-17 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Srinagar election results 2024 live updates: JKNC's Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi wins with over 1.8 lakh votes |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jammu/srinagar-election-results-2024-jammu-kashmir-srinagar-lok-sabha-elections-poll-result-updates-aga-syed-ruhullah-mehdi-jkn-waheed-ur-rehman-para-jkpdp/articleshow/110640350.cms |access-date=2024-10-17 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

==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.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi in 2024.jpg | thumb|right | Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi]]

==In Parliament==
* Raised the issues with different Ministries [[MoHFW]] 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]] to enforce, implement and promote the complete prohibition of liquor and intoxicants in the Jammu & Kashmir.
<ref>{{Cite web |last=Qadir |first=Gafira |date=2024-08-14 |title=Interview with Kashmir MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi: “Kashmiris reduced to second-class citizens of Union of India” |url=https://maktoobmedia.com/india/interview-with-kashmir-mp-aga-syed-ruhullah-mehdi-kashmiris-reduced-to-second-class-citizens-of-union-of-india/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Maktoob Media |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-30 |title=Release prisoners held without trial, end 'overly harsh' police verification, NC MP Ruhullah Mehdi urges CM Omar Abdullah |url=https://maktoobmedia.com/india/release-prisoners-held-without-trial-end-overly-harsh-police-verification-nc-mp-ruhullah-mehdi-urges-cm-omar-abdullah/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Maktoob Media |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-30 |title=NC's most sought-after face, Aga Ruhullah makes his presence felt in J&K polls |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/nc-aga-ruhullah-makes-his-presence-felt-in-jk-polls-9595378/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-11-01 |title=After terror attack in Budgam, Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah slams BJP's “Repeated Failures” in J&K Security |url=https://risingkashmir.com/after-terror-attack-in-budgam-srinagar-mp-aga-ruhullah-slams-bjps-repeated-failures-in-jk-security/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |newspaper=[[Rising Kashmir]] |language=en-US }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-11-01 |title=BJP Should Be Held Accountable: Aga Ruhullah |url=https://kashmirobserver.net/2024/11/01/bjp-should-be-held-accountable-aga-ruhullah/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |newspaper=[[Kashmir Observer]] |language=en-US }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-10-29 |title=MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi urges the new J&K Chief Minister to prioritize justice, employment, and equitable governance for a united and progressive future |url=https://asianewsnetwork.net/mp-aga-syed-ruhullah-mehdi-urges-the-new-jk-chief-minister-to-prioritize-justice-employment-and-equitable-governance-for-a-united-and-progressive-future/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |work=[[Asia News Network]] |language=en-GB }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Aga Ruhullah Face behind NC's success in JK Elections 2024 |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/aga-syed-ruhullah-mehdi-meet-the-face-behind-ncs-success-in-jk-elections-12845033.html |website=Money Control }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{18th Lok Sabha members from Jammu and Kashmir}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mehdi, Aga Syed Ruhullah}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Jammu and Kashmir MLAs 2002–2008]]
[[Category:Jammu and Kashmir MLAs 2008–2014]]
[[Category:Jammu and Kashmir MLAs 2014–2018]]
[[Category:Jammu & Kashmir National Conference politicians]]
[[Category:India MPs 2024–2029]]
[[Category:People from Budgam district]]
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Tyndale Biscoe School alumni]]

Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi - Revision history

Robbub at 19:58, 18 April 2026