Suhail Khan
Srinagar, Oct 27: Four newly inducted ministers in the Omar Abdullah-led Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday sought to underline their commitment to public service, while offering differing responses to the discontent within the National Conference over the Cabinet expansion.
Ali Mohammad Sagar described the resentment among some party leaders as a “family matter”, Shamima Firdous acknowledged that those left out could have genuine concerns, and Mir Saifullah and Altaf Kaloo pledged to work for the people across the Union Territory.
The four leaders were sworn in as ministers at Lok Bhawan in Srinagar on Tuesday as part of the Cabinet expansion.
Speaking to Kashmir Convener after taking oath, Ali Sagar said he is grateful to the party leadership for giving him the opportunity and would make every effort to meet the expectations of the people.
“There are enough responsibilities. I pray to Allah that I am able to discharge them properly. People have a lot of expectations,” he said.
Asked about reports of resentment among some leaders over the allocation of ministerial berths, Sagar said differences were natural in a political organisation with several aspirants.
“Some will be happy, while others may be unhappy. There are many leaders in the party. Some are on the side of happiness, while others may be disappointed. But this is a family matter, and everything will be all right,” he said.
Shamima Firdous, the National Conference MLA from Habba Kadal, described her induction as a major responsibility, saying her priority would be to serve the people and work towards the vision of a “Naya Kashmir” envisaged by party founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.
“The responsibility is very big. I am happy, but more than that, I pray to Allah that I am able to fulfil it. Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah had envisioned a Naya Kashmir, and we will try to realise that dream,” she said.
On the discontent among legislators who did not make it to the Cabinet, Firdous said the limited number of ministerial positions meant that some leaders were bound to be disappointed.
“It is natural. The number of positions was limited, and the leadership must have taken the decision after considerable thought. Those who are unhappy may also have genuine concerns,” she said.
She added that the concerns could be taken up with the party leadership and expressed confidence that a way forward could be found. Referring to senior National Conference leaders Mubarak Gul and Abdul Majeed Larmi, she said both were important members of the party.
Shamima Firdous also said she would focus on issues concerning women and work to ensure that they were not neglected.
“Women are the crown of humanity. We will do whatever is possible and right for women, and we will never consider them a neglected section of society,” she said.
Mir Saifullah, the National Conference MLA from Trehgam, said his responsibilities extended beyond his constituency and that he would work to address public grievances across all districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
“I am very happy to have become a minister, but I have a lot of responsibilities towards the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said after taking oath.
“I am a minister for the whole of Jammu and Kashmir. I will do my best and work for every district. I will try to resolve the problems of the people,” he said.
Saifullah thanked the party leadership for reposing faith in him and said he would also work towards strengthening the National Conference.
Altaf Kaloo, another minister inducted into the Cabinet, said he would make every effort to serve the people and remain accessible to them.
“I will leave no stone unturned and do my best to serve the people,” he said after taking oath at Lok Bhawan.
Responding to reports of discontent among legislators who were not inducted, Kaloo rejected the suggestion that the reactions witnessed after the Cabinet expansion reflected dissatisfaction.
“No one cried out of dissatisfaction; those were tears of joy,” he said.
He thanked the party leadership for the opportunity and said he would devote himself to public service.
“Whatever we can do, we will do for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. I will remain at their service day and night. We will continue listening to their concerns and working to resolve them,” he said.
The Cabinet expansion comes amid expectations within the ruling National Conference that the government will balance administrative responsibilities with the political aspirations of party legislators. The induction of four ministers has also brought renewed attention to those who were not accommodated in the reshuffle.
Comments are closed.