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ammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) president, Prof Bhim Singh appointed his nephew, Harsh Dev Singh, as the new party chief. It is after 30 long years that Bhim Singh left the party reigns. With the appointment of his nephew as the party head, Prof Bhim Singh has carried forward the trend of dynasty rule in political parties in Jammu region which, contrary to Kashmir valley, had not the trend of dynasty rule in political parties. The decision of Bhim Singh has put the region at par with Kashmir.
“Having been convinced about the capability and commitment of the upcoming team of the party, I have opted out of the chairmanship and nominated Harsh Dev Singh as new chairman”, outgoing chairman of JKNPP and member of National Integration Council, Bhim Singh said. The decision was taken by the party leadership on October 27, during the ‘accession day’ celebrations at Udhampur, the day which Kashmir commemorates as a ‘black day’ taking a leaf from the events of 1947 partition history.
Harsh Dev Singh was education minister in the Mufti Muhammad Sayeed led coalition government of 2002. 49-year-old MLA from Ramnagar, Jammu, Harsh Dev Singh is a very impressive orator who is currently leader of JKNPP legislative party in the state legislative assembly. He is the second time MLA from Ramnagar assembly segment and veteran lawyer of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. Speaking to reporters after being appointed as the new party chief, Harsh Dev Singh said, “I will fight for re-organization of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.” JKNPP was launched in Jammu and Kashmir as a regional party in 1982.The party is supported mainly in pockets of Hindu-dominated areas of Jammu region. The party has three legislators in J&K assembly of 87 members.
The Panthers Party declared that a ‘Rashtriya Chetna Abhiyan’ shall be launched from December, 2012 with an awakening call about the urgency to integrate J&K with the rest of the country. The party said the Accession was accepted by Lord Mountbatten on 27th October, 1947. The Panthers Party also demanded apology from the leadership of National Conference and Congress for launching ‘Quit Kashmir’ movement against Dogras who were integral part of J&K. The Panthers Party resolution demanded an amendment in Article 370 to empower Parliament to legislate in respect of J&K, particularly in respect to the subjects listed in the Central List including Defense, Foreign Affairs and Communications.
