Touseef Hamdani
New Delhi Aug 10 : Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Treasurer and Rajya Sabha member Shami Oberoi has said that restoration of statehood and constitutional rights remains central to the party’s political agenda, asserting that the National Conference will continue to raise the concerns of Jammu and Kashmir before the Centre.
In an interview with Kashmir News Service (KNS), Oberoi said the people of Jammu and Kashmir want their rights back and that governance should ultimately be carried out with the participation of the people.
Oberoi said he has consistently raised the issues of statehood and constitutional rights in the Rajya Sabha. He said he would continue to remind Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah about their commitment to restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
“We will continue to fight for our constitutional rights,” he said, adding that the party would pursue the issue through democratic and peaceful means.
Speaking about his entry into the Rajya Sabha, Oberoi said he was proud to represent Jammu and Kashmir and considered the opportunity a reflection of the National Conference’s secular credentials.
He said he was the first Kashmiri Sikh to reach the Rajya Sabha and credited National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for placing their trust in him. He said the decision had also received appreciation from political leaders across party lines.
Oberoi said his political association with the National Conference dates back to 1996 and that he later served as the party’s Treasurer. He also recalled his father’s long association with Jammu and Kashmir politics and the party.
On the functioning of the Omar Abdullah government, Oberoi said the administration was facing challenges because Jammu and Kashmir had not yet regained statehood.
He said the present governance structure involves both the elected government and the Lieutenant Governor, which, according to him, has affected the government’s ability to implement some of its plans.
Oberoi, however, defended the government’s performance and rejected criticism that little development had taken place on the ground.
He said new roads had been constructed, schools upgraded and hospitals improved. He also expressed confidence in Omar Abdullah, saying the Chief Minister was sincere and would make every effort to fulfil the promises made by the National Conference during its five-year term.
On the concerns of the Sikh community in Jammu and Kashmir, Oberoi said several demands had been raised with the Chief Minister, including recognition of the Punjabi language, minority status and the creation of a community board.
He said the Sikh community had always lived in harmony with the majority population and expressed hope that its concerns would be addressed by the government.
Oberoi also addressed questions about differences within the National Conference, saying that political approaches could differ but the larger objective remained the same.
He said the National Conference would continue to seek restoration of statehood and constitutional rights and would pursue these demands through democratic and peaceful means.
Referring to the party’s protest at Jantar Mantar, Oberoi defended the programme and said National Conference MPs, MLAs and other political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir had participated. He rejected criticism that the protest had failed to make an impact, saying the Centre had taken note of the demonstration.
He also said that differences in the way individual party leaders participated in political programmes should not necessarily be seen as a split within the National Conference.
On reports of a possible reshuffle in the Jammu and Kashmir Council of Ministers, Oberoi said Omar Abdullah had already stated that a reshuffle would take place, although no date had been announced.
He said he hoped the reshuffle would strengthen governance and enable the government to serve the people more effectively.
Oberoi identified employment, healthcare and education as major areas requiring attention in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said creating employment opportunities for young people should be a priority and stressed that opportunities were needed not only in the government sector but also in the private sector.
He also called for improvements in healthcare infrastructure and the education system, saying these sectors were important for the future of Jammu and Kashmir.
Oberoi also reiterated the National Conference’s position on Articles 370 and 35A, saying the party considers the issue non-negotiable and will continue its struggle for it through democratic and peaceful means. He said protecting land rights and securing employment opportunities for the people of Jammu and Kashmir would also remain among the party’s priorities.
Explaining his role in Delhi, Oberoi said he had been sent to the national capital to represent the people of Jammu and Kashmir and put forward the National Conference’s views.
“I have been sent to Delhi so that I can represent the people of J&K,” he said, adding that he would continue to explain to policymakers what was beneficial for the region and raise its concerns at the national level.
For Oberoi, the political priorities remain clear restoration of statehood, protection of constitutional rights, employment for youth, stronger healthcare and education, and representation of Jammu and Kashmir’s concerns in Parliament.(KNS)
