Lauds Omar, Advocates for Article 371 in Bold First Move as Minister
Avinash Azad
In an emotionally charged moment following his swearing-in ceremony, Chhamb MLA (Independent) Satish Sharma expressed his long-held aspirations and concerns about serving in the Congress-led government.
“I turned emotional seeing Rahul Gandhi and other senior party leaders here. I always wanted to be a Minister from the Congress party,” Sharma said, while acknowledging that “there are several shortcomings that need to be rectified.”
Satish contested independently from the Chhamb assembly constituency after the Congress party gave its ticket to Tara Chand. He won with 33,985 votes, defeating BJP candidate Rajeev Sharma by a margin of 6,929 votes.
Meanwhile, Congress candidate and former Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, who was also the party’s Speaker nominee, came in third with 16,449 votes. Satish is the son of the late Madan Lal Sharma, a two-time MP (2004-2014) and former minister in J&K, inheriting his father’s political legacy.
Despite the Congress party’s debacle in 2014 and the rise of the BJP when many leaders switched sides, Madan Lal remained loyal to Congress until his last breath (December 2020). However, Satish’s uncle, Sham Lal Sharma, a two-time MLA from the Akhnoor assembly constituency and minister in Omar Abdullah’s NC-Congress government (2009-14), joined the BJP. He later won the election from Jammu North on the BJP’s ticket.
The newly appointed minister lauded Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s leadership, describing him as “a visionary and truly secular leader.” Sharma particularly commended Abdullah’s balanced approach in giving equal representation to both regions of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sharma on Friday has been entrusted with key portfolios including Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Transport, Science & Technology, Information Technology, Youth Services & Sports, and ARI & Trainings alongwith his other colleagues. Speaking to reporters after the ceremony on Wednesday, he pledged to fulfill the Chief Minister’s expectations and work in the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a significant policy statement, the new minister addressed the contentious issue of special status for the region. “If not Article 370, give us Article 371 – we deserve a special status,” Sharma declared, sending a clear message to the central leadership in New Delhi. He emphasized the importance of reciprocal relationship between the center and the state, stating, “Love the people if you love the resources of Jammu and Kashmir.”
The minister also expressed his commitment to working alongside the Jammu and Kashmir leadership to advocate for the region’s interests. His statements reflect the ongoing debate about the constitutional relationship between the union government and Jammu and Kashmir.
The swearing-in ceremony, held in Srinagar Wednesday, was attended by prominent Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav, AAP and others leaders marking a significant moment in the state’s political landscape. The event highlighted the continuing importance of regional representation and constitutional status in J&K’s political discourse.
