Srinagar, Nov. 4 -- Hours after its Srinagar Lok Sabha MP Aga Ruhullah announced his resignation from the National Conference as well as his parliamentary seat, the party on Tuesday mounted a scathing counterattack targeting the leader over his criticism of the NC leadership and his stand on key political issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir.

The National Conference (NC) accused Ruhullah of hypocrisy, political opportunism, self-obsession and betraying the party that shaped his political career, while questioning his contribution to the causes of special status, statehood and reservation rights.

Defending its political position, the NC asserted that restoration of statehood would never come at the expense of special status, declaring tha...