Ramzan, Kichloo set tone in Parliament; ‘Well done’, says Omar
Arteev Sharma
Jammu: With the National Conference (NC) securing strength in the Parliament after three newly-elected MPs were sworn into the Rajya Sabha, the party has sent a clear message on the very first day of the winter session that it will press hard for the restoration of statehood and highlight the “limited powers” available to the elected Omar Abdullah government in Jammu and Kashmir.
In their maiden speech on the first day of their term, shortly after taking oath, NC MPs Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan and Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, invoked two key political concerns while pressing for the urgent need to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and accusing Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha of “centralising authority” and curtailing the powers of the elected government.
Their strong political approach drew appreciation from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who was present in the visitors’ gallery along with advisor Nasir Aslam Wani to witness the oath-taking ceremony. Omar, who has differences with NC Lok Sabha MP Aga Syed Ruhullah, praised his Rajya Sabha colleagues for their assertive beginning.
“Well done @KichlooSajjad for making your maiden address in the Rajya Sabha on your very first day as a member. Please keep espousing the issues of J&K and fighting for our rights. I’m sure you will make us all proud,” Omar posted on ‘X’ after Kichloo reiterated the long-pending demand for statehood in his first speech.
Kichloo, invoking high voter turnout in recent elections, said: “This time, the people created a history in the last three decades as they came out in large numbers to cast their votes. The Hon’ble Prime Minister had assured both Houses that Jammu and Kashmir will given back the statehood status. I appeal to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister to restore statehood without delay to fulfill former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s mission of Insaniyat, Jamhuriyat and Kashmiriyat”.
Omar also lauded his party’s Rajya Sabha member Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan for raking up the issue of “limited powers” with J&K government. “First day first show. Well done to @JKNC- Leader of the party in the Rajya Sabha Ch Mohd Ramzan for using the first available opportunity to remind the union government of its promise about restoration of statehood to J&K,” he said.
Ramzan, while congratulating Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan on assuming charge as Rajya Sabha Chairman, also steered his speech towards the governance deficit in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that although free and fair elections were held in 2024 and people gave the NC a two-thirds majority, the elected government enjoys little real authority.
Voicing strong dissatisfaction over the limited powers of the elected J&K government, he said, “I would like to say here with great sorrow that all the power is in the hands of LG (Lieutenant Governor). Orders flow from there…”.
Despite the intervention, Ramzan pressed his point, emphasising the strategic importance and historical context of Jammu and Kashmir. “…You know what has happened in Jammu and Kashmir in the last decades. We have to strengthen it,” he said.
With three members in Rajya Sabha, the total strength of the National Conference in both the Houses of Parliament has reached five—two Lok Sabha members, Mian Altaf and Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi. The BJP now has three MPs from Jammu and Kashmir, including Union MoS in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh, Jugal Kishore Sharma and newly elected Rajya Sabha member Sat Paul Sharma.
