Three NC leaders Gurvinder Singh Oberoi, Sajjad Kuchlo, and Chaudhry Ramzan of were formally sworn in today as Members of the Rajya Sabha. The oath was administered in the presence of the Vice President of India and Rajya Sabha Chairman, CP Radhakrishnan.
The three newly elected MPs from Jammu & Kashmir took their seats as the Union Territory regained its representation in the Upper House after 5 years.Parliament officials welcomed the members and expressed confidence that they would contribute actively to legislative proceedings in the ongoing session.
Kichloo took the oath in Urdu, Oberoi in Punjabi, and Ramzan in Kashmiri.Oberoi became the first Sikh member to be elected to the Rajya Sabha from Jammu and Kashmir.Extending his wishes to Oberoi as he walked into the Rajya Sabha for the first time, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, “You carry a lot of hopes and expectations on your shoulders”.
The Chief Minister also congratulated Kichloo for beginning a new innings in his political career.“The people of J-K, especially of the Chenab Valley, will look up to him with a lot of hope and watch closely as he represents their aspirations,” Abdullah said. After the oath, the three leaders exchanged pleasantries with the Chairman and greeted other leaders present in the House.
Last month, the NC won three Rajya Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir, while the BJP won the fourth seat in the elections. This was the first election held after the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019. The Rajya Sabha seats have remained vacant since 2021.
In his maiden address to the Rajya Sabha, newly elected member Sajjad Kichloo called on the Central Government to restore statehood to Jammu & Kashmir at the earliest. Emphasizing the aspirations of the people of the region, Kichloo urged the government to fulfill the vision articulated by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, based on the principles of ‘Insaniyat, Jamhuriyat, Kashmiriyat’
Kichloo stated that reinstating statehood would reinforce democratic values and help build greater trust between the Union Government and the people of Jammu & Kashmir. He highlighted that the restoration of political rights was essential for ensuring long-term peace, development, and representation in the region.The MP concluded his speech with a renewed appeal for constructive dialogue and meaningful steps towards addressing the concerns of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.
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