BJP Alleges Discrimination in Santosh Trophy Squad Selection; J&K Sports Council Rejects Charge Archives

Row over exclusion of Jammu players turns football selection into political flashpoint By: Javid Amin | 14 December 2025 A political controversy has erupted over the selection of Jammu & Kashmir’s Santosh Trophy football squad, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleging regional discrimination against players from Jammu, while the J&K Sports Council has categorically rejected the charge, asserting that the selection process was strictly merit-based and transparent. The dispute has triggered strong reactions from football clubs, former players, parents, and fans in Jammu province, turning what is ordinarily a…