J&K Sports Minister promises probe into Santosh Trophy team selection
Allegations of discrimination against players from the Jammu region
Jammu and Kashmir Sports Minister Satish Sharma on Monday assured a fair and time-bound inquiry into the selection of the Union Territory’s Santosh Trophy football team, following allegations of discrimination against players from the Jammu region.
The controversy erupted after it emerged that nearly all selected players were from the Kashmir region, triggering protests and political backlash in Jammu. However, the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council dismissed the allegations as misleading, asserting that the selection process was transparent and strictly merit-based.
In a post on social media, the Sports Minister said: “Taking cognisance of media reports regarding issues in the selection of the team for the Santosh Trophy Football Championship, a detailed and impartial inquiry shall be held in a time-bound manner. I assure everyone that any violation of the merit-based selection policy by any individual will invite severe consequences and appropriate punitive action.”
Of the 20 players selected for the J&K Santosh Trophy squad, only one—Nirdosh Sagotra—belongs to the Jammu region, while the remaining players are from Kashmir. According to reports, as many as 74 players from Jammu were shortlisted and participated in the selection trials but failed to make the final team, prompting questions about the selection process.
The selected squad includes Nirdosh Sagotra, Furkhan Ahmed Dar, Shahid Nazir, Zubair Ahad Akhoon, Mohammad Sajid Dhot, Aakif Javaid, Basit Ahmed Bhat, Hyder Yousuf, Urfan Hamid, Shahmeer Tariq, Talib Nazir, Mohammad Inam, Shakir Ahmed Sheikh, Adnan Ayoub, Sahil Khurshid, Asrar Rehbar, Waris Amin, Ahteeb Ahmed Dar, Ikhlaq Fayaz Bhat and Hayat Bashir. The selection committee was headed by head coach Ishfaq Ahmed.
The issue has snowballed into a major political controversy, with the Congress—an alliance partner of the ruling National Conference (NC)—questioning the government’s intent and alleging regional bias. Protest demonstrations were held across Jammu on Monday, during which demonstrators raised slogans against the Sports Minister, who himself hails from the Jammu region.
J&K Congress chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma expressed concern over the alleged bias, questioning how only one player from Jammu was selected despite a larger pool of participants from the region.
“It was expected that the concerned authorities would issue a clear response and place all facts in the public domain. Instead, there is complete silence, which is not only unfortunate but also dangerous in view of regional sensitivities and the growing resentment among the youth,” he said.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) also staged a protest at Indira Chowk in Jammu, alleging step-motherly treatment towards the region. Party president Manish Sahni said there was no shortage of footballing talent in Jammu and questioned the credibility of the selection process.
“How is it possible that selectors could not find capable players from among the 74 candidates who participated in the trials from 10 districts of the Jammu division?” Sahni asked.
The BJP had on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the NC-led government, accusing it of discriminating against Jammu and demanding the resignation of Sports Minister Satish Sharma.
