Sadiq & Sagar from Srinagar could reap rewards
Srinagar: 06 July: The ruling J&K National Conference (JKNC) is meeting the members of civil society at Srinagar’s Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) to build consensus for a joint struggle for the return of statehood, but the rival political formations accuse the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led government of managing optics for face-saving.
In another major development, as per informed sources, a silent rebellion is brewing in the JKNC camp. Several JKNC MLAs, especially those hailing from Central and North Kashmir, are dissatisfied about the distribution of cabinet portfolios when the cabinet ministers were sworn in after the 2024 Assembly elections.
Several MLAs, while wishing anonymity, told The News Herald, that they are “unhappy and angry” over an important post (Deputy Chief Minister) being “handed on a platter” to a “controversial individual”.
From Central Kashmir’s Srinagar, Ali Mohammad Sagar won the Khanyar Assembly seat on the JKNC’s ticket. The constituency has been a bastion for Sagar for decades now. Senior Sagar, whose health condition is not ideal, does not have a cabinet post. In the past, he has held important portfolios, including Law and Parliamentary Affairs.
Salman Sagar, the son of Ali Mohammad Sagar, won the important Hazratbal constituency. A long-time JKNC loyalist, Salman Sagar, didn’t get a cabinet portfolio either.
Apart from the father-son Sagar duo, five other JKNC leaders won their Assembly seats from Eidgah, Zadibal, Chanapora, Lal Chowk and Habba Kadal constituencies. None of them has a cabinet post.
“Behind the JKNC’s resounding win in the 2024 J&K Assembly elections, Srinagar played an important part. But our Chief Minister gave ‘ashirvad’ to MLAs from other areas, ignoring the centrality of Srinagar,” a JKNC MLA told The News Herald on the condition of anonymity.
Tanvir Sadiq, who heads the JKNC media communications, won the Zadibal Assembly segment, Srinagar. Despite being a close aide of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Sadiq hasn’t been sworn in as a cabinet minister.
Informed sources revealed that Tanvir Sadiq and Salman Sagar are most likely to be sworn in as cabinet ministers once the expansion occurs.
However, it is unlikely that Shamima Firdous, who won the Habba Kadal Assembly segment, will get a cabinet berth. Neither will Mushtaq Guroo, who won the Chanapora Assembly seat. The same could be the case with Sheikh Ahsan (Pardesi), who won his Lal Chowk Assembly seat.
Some JKNC MLAs from Central Kashmir and North Kashmir also expressed their displeasure over being “ignored” by their Chief Minister and “his coterie”. They revealed this during off-the-record interactions with The News Herald.
Meanwhile, everything seems set for the JKNC’s proposed congregation at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on the first day of the monsoon session of the Parliament (20 July). The party has said that it will press for the restoration of statehood by a symbolic demonstration.
The JKNC leadership will also lead a protest rally in the summer capital Srinagar on 11 July to build a larger consensus for the restoration of statehood. The party is observing the 25th anniversary of the death of Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah, Sheikh Abdullah’s spouse, on 11 July.
A party spokesperson said that the Omar Abdullah-led government is keen to send out a message to the leadership in Delhi that all sections in Jammu and Kashmir are united in their demand for the return of statehood.
Justice (retired) Hasnain Masoodi, senior JKNC leader and sitting MLA from South Kashmir’s Pampore, said civil society voices are important to know the political aspirations of the people.
It is estimated that around 20,000 people will take part in the 11 July rally.
Opposition political groups argue that the JKNC “is staging optics” to change the narrative on its alleged failure to deliver on all fronts, including governance.
Waheed Parra, MLA Pulwama and a senior PDP leader, told The News Herald that the National Conference leadership is “shifting the narrative from greater autonomy to the return of statehood”.
He said that the former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti even wrote a letter to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah so that a larger consensus could be reached for collective struggle, but the JKNC leadership “did not even bother to respond to Mehbooba Ji’s letter”.
