Archive · 15 Dec 2025
J-K Minister Promises Fair Probe into Santosh Trophy Team Selection
The sports minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Satish Sharma, has promised a fair and quick investigation into how the team for the Santosh Trophy football championship was chosen.
This comes after the BJP party said that only players from Kashmir were picked and none from Jammu.
The sports council says the selection was fair and based on merit.
They explained that out of 32 shortlisted players, 8 were from Jammu, and 4 from Jammu were finally selected for the team.
The minister said anyone who breaks the rules will be punished.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also rejected the claims of discrimination and asked politicians to keep sports and education separate from politics.
The J&K team recently won their first match in the Santosh Trophy.
J-K sports minister Satish Sharma promises a fair and time-bound inquiry into Santosh Trophy team selection.
BJP alleges discrimination against Jammu region, claiming only Kashmir players were selected.
Sports council defends selection as merit-based and transparent, with 4 players from Jammu selected.
Selection process lasted over one-and-a-half months, with a residential coaching camp from November 21 to December 12.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah rejects claims of discrimination and asks politicians to keep sports and education separate from politics.
- Who
- Jammu and Kashmir sports minister Satish Sharma, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, BJP spokesperson Rajni Sethi
- What
- Allegations of discrimination in Santosh Trophy team selection and assurances of a fair inquiry
- When
- Allegations made on Sunday, minister's response on Monday
- Where
- Jammu and Kashmir
- Why
- BJP alleges discrimination against Jammu region in team selection, while the government defends the selection as merit-based
BJP
J-K Government
Selection Process
BJP
Alleges illegal and discriminatory selection process, claiming only players from Kashmir were selected.
J-K Government
Defends selection as merit-based and transparent, with 4 players from Jammu selected.
Politicization of Sports
BJP
Demands resignation of sports minister and revocation of selection.
J-K Government
Requests politicians to keep sports and education separate from politics.
- Minister Involved
- Satish Sharma
- Event
- Santosh Trophy
- Allegations
- Discrimination against Jammu region
- Players Shortlisted
- 32 (8 from Jammu)
- Players Selected
- 23 (4 from Jammu)
- Selection Process Duration
- More than one-and-a-half months
- Residential Coaching Camp Duration
- November 21 to December 12
- Chief Minister
- Omar Abdullah
- BJP Spokesperson
- Rajni Sethi
