NC Rajya Sabha MP Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan. File | Photo credit: Imran Nissar
Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, a newly elected member of the National Conference (NC) Rajya Sabha, on Monday (Dec 1, 2025) highlighted the limited powers of the elected government of Jammu and Kashmir, saying the power rests primarily with Lt Governor Manoj Sinha.
Mr. Ramzan said this in his maiden speech in the Rajya Sabha after being sworn in as a member of the upper house along with NC leader Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo and party treasurer Gurwinder Singh Oberoi alias ‘Shammi’. Mr. Oberoi is the first member of the Sikh community from Kashmir to be sent to the Rajya Sabha.
Three NC leaders along with BJP’s Sat Sharma were elected to the Rajya Sabha last month. This was the first Rajya Sabha election in Jammu and Kashmir since its bifurcation in 2019, filling the seats left vacant from 2021.
During his speech, amid interruptions by some members, Mr. Ramzan said the people had given a two-thirds majority to the NC, paving the way for a popular government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Expressing strong displeasure over the limited powers of the elected J&K government, he said, “It is with great sadness that I would like to say here that all power is in the hands of the LG (Lieutenant Governor). The orders flow from there…” He spoke on behalf of his party to thank Vice President CP Radhakrishnan for assuming the role of Rajya Sabha Chairman.
Admitting he did not know the chairman well, Mr Ramzan said: “The biggest thing many speakers have said here is that you have been a social worker in your life. And nobody comes to these big places unless there is a lot of sacrifice and a history of public service behind it.” However, Mr Ramzan was quick to raise the issue of governance in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that while the Union Territory had held free and fair elections in 2024, the elected government had little executive power in matters of governance.
At this point, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha intervened and urged Mr. Ramzan to stick to the designated subject of the welcome address and that he would be given another space to raise concerns related to Jammu and Kashmir.
Despite the intervention, Mr. Ramzan stood his ground and emphasized the strategic importance and historical context of Jammu and Kashmir.
“…You know what has happened in Jammu and Kashmir in the last decades. We have to strengthen it,” he said, adding that the massive mandate the people first gave to an elected government was meaningless if it was effectively powerless.
Mr Ramzan’s maiden speech drew praise from Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who witnessed the swearing-in ceremony with his adviser Nasir Wani in the visitors’ gallery.
“First day first show. Well done…Ch Mohd Ramzan for using the first available opportunity to remind the union government of its promise to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir,” the CM said on X.
NC chief Farooq Abdullah also extended his wishes to the newly-elected Rajya Sabha MPs, saying they “will work for the best interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir”.
Earlier, when the Rajya Sabha proceedings began, Mr. Ramzan administered the oath in Kashmiri, while Mr. Kichloo administered it in Urdu and Mr. Oberoi did the same in Punjabi.
Expressing his wishes to Mr. Oberoi when he walked into the Rajya Sabha for the first time, Omar Abdullah said, “…you carry a lot of hopes and expectations on your shoulders.” The Chief Minister also congratulated Mr. Kichloo for starting his new shift in his political career. “The people of J&K, especially the Chenab Valley, will look up to him with great hope and watch closely as he represents their aspirations.” After being sworn in, Mr Kichloo said that the recent elections in Jammu and Kashmir, which he described as the first of its kind in 30 years, had seen “people who participated in it significantly”. “They made history. Targeting J&K’s promise of statehood, he appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah “to give statehood at the earliest and complete the mission of late Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji, the mission of humanity, democracy and Kashmir”.
Mr Kichloo also thanked all Jammu and Kashmir MLAs through a post on X, saying, “…this mandate is not a privilege but a deep responsibility – and I remain committed to serving my people with integrity and unwavering commitment.”
Published – 01 Dec 2025 19:56 IST
