Suhail Khan
Srinagar, Jan 31: Restoration of full statehood for Jammu and Kashmir is the “principal and non-negotiable political goal”, Chief Minister’s adviser Nasir Sogami said on Saturday, terming all other administrative arrangements as “interim” measures for governance.
His remarks come amid the political discourse on J&K’s status and ahead of the Union Budget, where allocations for J&K are closely watched.
Speaking to Kashmir Convener, Sogami said, “We should talk about our constitutional guarantees. And most importantly, our statehood should be restored.” He added, “All these are interim measures which are administratively required… That has nothing to do with the main cause that we are fighting for.”
On engagement with the Centre, Sogami clarified that the Chief Minister’s meetings with Union ministers were administrative necessities, not a political alignment. “It is mandatory that we go and talk to the Home Minister of India… to be cordial with the Government of India. At the same time, we have no relation whatsoever with the BJP,” he said.
Regarding expectations for the coming financial year, Sogami pointed to improvements in electricity supply, citing reduced curtailment and schedule-based power distribution. “This year, you must have seen that there was no such curtailment… Next year, we will try to augment it further so that in all our villages, towns, and cities, the curtailment will be zero,” he said, crediting the administration’s reforms.
When asked about proposals for a separate state, Sogami reaffirmed the National Conference’s historical stance. “We have always wanted to be a complete state — Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. They have already cut a part of it,” he said, referring to Ladakh’s separation as a Union Territory in 2019.
He accused the BJP of pursuing “politics of division.” “We were an exemplary state… We did not live on communal lines. When Mahatma Gandhi saw the light, he saw it in Jammu and Kashmir,” Sogami said.
On whether a resolution on statehood would be tabled in the ongoing Assembly session, Sogami said the issue must be taken up with the Union government. “This is our right and we should get it… I don’t think there is any scope for negotiation now. We don’t even know what the negotiation is,” he said.
He demanded clarity from the Centre: “They should tell us what the reasons are. What we have to improve in ourselves. How we will qualify to get it. That will also have to be discussed.”
The adviser also addressed the reported harassment of Kashmiri students in some states, saying the J&K government had been in touch with counterparts in those states and that FIRs had been filed. He urged students to stay vigilant and to contact nodal officers appointed in Delhi for assistance.
On the politically sensitive issue of reservation, Sogami said a cabinet-approved proposal has been sent to the Lieutenant Governor for a decision. Regarding the regularization of daily wage workers, he said a committee headed by the Chief Secretary is finalizing its report, after which the government will make a decision.
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