3 NC MPs take Rajya Sabha oath, press for statehood restoration

The National Conference’s three newly elected Rajya Sabha members on Monday reiterated that the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir “has no powers”, while renewing the demand for restoration of statehood to the Union Territory.

NC leaders Sajad Ahmad Kichloo, Gurwinder Singh Oberoi and Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan were administered the oath of office in Parliament by Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan.

During his address, Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan said that after what he termed the “most fair” elections held last year, a government with a two-thirds majority came to power in the UT. However, he claimed that real authority continues to rest with the Lieutenant Governor rather than the elected administration. “All the power is concentrated in the hands of the Lieutenant Governor. All the orders flow from there,” he said, questioning the purpose of an elected government “without powers”.

The Vice President intervened during his speech, asking Ramzan to stick to the subject and assuring him that he would be given time later to raise these issues.

Sajad Ahmad Kichloo, who also made his maiden remarks after taking oath, urged the Centre to expedite the restoration of statehood to J&K. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured on the floor of the House that statehood would be reinstated. “Today, I appeal to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister to restore statehood sooner,” he said.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who was in Delhi and reached Parliament on Monday, responded to the speeches of the party’s newly elected members. “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,” Omar wrote on X.

On Kichloo, Omar said, “The people of J&K, especially of the Chenab Valley, will look to him with a lot of hope and watch closely as he represents their aspirations.”

In the Rajya Sabha elections held in October, the NC—part of the INDIA bloc—secured three of the four seats from Jammu and Kashmir, while the BJP acquired one.