Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Wednesday hit back at the BJP over its criticism of the Omar Abdullah government’s Cabinet expansion, questioning the criteria used to define Hindu identity and asserting that he, too, belonged to the community.
The exchange came a day after the induction of four National Conference legislators into the Council of Ministers and the subsequent redistribution of portfolios, which has triggered a political debate over regional and community representation in the nine-member Cabinet.
Responding to questions about demands for a greater share of ministerial positions for Jammu, Choudhary said the Chenab Valley had elected two legislators, while questioning why his own representation from Jammu was not being recognised by some people on religious grounds.
“Surinder Choudhary has been appointed from Jammu, but they do not even consider me a Hindu. I do not know whom they consider a Hindu,” he told reporters during a visit to Ramban district.
The Deputy Chief Minister assured the people of the Chenab Valley that the absence of a minister from the region would not mean neglect by the government. He said National Conference legislators Sajjad Shaheen and Arjun Raju had direct access to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and that the government would extend all possible assistance to Ramban and other areas of the valley.
The BJP, however, maintained that the Cabinet reshuffle had failed to address Jammu’s concerns and had hurt the region’s sentiments.
Addressing a press conference, BJP chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi said the Cabinet had reached its maximum permissible strength, but Jammu’s representation remained inadequate. He argued that the region should have received three or four positions in the nine-member Council of Ministers.
Sethi said the party had expected an additional minister from Jammu following the expansion, particularly as three positions had been vacant before the latest induction. He also raised the issue of religious representation, pointing out that eight ministers belonged to the Muslim community and one to the Hindu community.
The BJP spokesperson questioned the decision to drop Satish Sharma from the Cabinet, alleging that the reshuffle had overlooked regional balance and the expectations of Hindu voters. His remarks were political allegations and were not independently established.
Sethi also alleged growing discontent within the National Conference over the reshuffle and the Chief Minister’s functioning. He denied that the BJP was in touch with any dissatisfied ruling party leaders, while saying the party was watching how the situation developed. He declined to predict an immediate split in the National Conference.
The Cabinet changes have also altered the distribution of several key departments. Senior National Conference leader Ali Mohammad Sagar has been assigned Revenue, Power Development, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, and Elections.
Shamim Firdous has taken charge of School Education, Higher Education and Jal Shakti, while Javid Ahmed Dar has been given Finance and Mining in addition to Agriculture Production and Cooperatives. Altaf Ahmad Wani has received Forest, Ecology and Environment, along with Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. Mir Saifullah has been assigned Planning, Development and Monitoring, Culture, Youth Services and Sports, and ARI and Trainings.
The reshuffle has left Education outside the portfolio of senior minister Sakeena Masood Itoo, who retains Health and Medical Education and Social Welfare. Javed Ahmed Rana, meanwhile, has lost Jal Shakti and Forest, Ecology and Environment but retains Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Tribal Affairs and Transport.
Deputy Chief Minister Choudhary has retained Public Works (Roads and Buildings), Industries and Commerce, Labour and Employment, and Skill Development, while Mining has been transferred to Dar.
Beyond the Cabinet dispute, Choudhary accused BJP leaders of making political statements on development without helping resolve delays caused by pending no-objection certificates and forest clearances. He challenged Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma to intervene with the Centre to secure clearances for stalled projects.
During his visit, the Deputy Chief Minister inspected infrastructure works, including the Maitra Bridge in Ramban and a bridge reconstruction project at Latori. He also visited the road leading to the Sharda Mata temple and a government school near the shrine in Udhampur district.
Choudhary said the contractor had assured him that the Maitra Bridge would be completed by July next year. He warned that negligence by contractors, officials and engineers would not be tolerated and said the government would continue development work despite financial constraints faced by Jammu and Kashmir as a Union Territory.
The political confrontation over the Cabinet reshuffle has brought regional representation, religious identity and the allocation of ministerial responsibilities into focus, with the ruling National Conference defending its approach and the BJP questioning whether Jammu has received an adequate share in the expanded government.
