Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 22: In a significant development, senior leader of the ruling People’s Democratic Party and scion of erstwhile Royal Dogra family, Vikramaditya Singh today announced his resignation from the PDP saying that it was not possible for him to continue with the party which disregarded the demands and aspirations of Jammu region.
“I feel it is neither morally nor ethically right for me to continue as the member of the PDP. I therefore tender my resignation from the party and request you to accept it with immediate effect,” he said in his resignation letter, which was submitted today to the PDP president and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.
Addressing a press conference soon after submitting his resignation, Singh further announced that he would also resign from the Legislative Council to which he was nominated as PDP member by the Governor.
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Listing reasons for his decision to quit ruling PDP, Vikramaditya Singh told media persons that despite his publically expressing concern over certain issues concerning Jammu region, PDP did not acknowledge the same and started distancing from him. “I raised the issue of illegal settlement of Rohingyas in the State, demanded inclusion of the period pertaining to Dogra rule in the school books, public holiday on birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh, due recognition to Dogri language, etc but PDP rejected these issues,” said Vikramaditya Singh, the elder son of Dr Karan Singh, who had joined the PDP only three years back.
On his future plans, he only said that his family has a bigger role to play and will work towards fulfilling his responsibility. “I have decided to undertake people contact programme and I am visiting different parts of the region to take feedback from ground level,” Singh said in response to a query whether he would form new political outfit or join any other party. Singh admitted that he had discussed the decision to quit PDP with his father Dr Karan Singh.
Claiming that people of Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir regions were not happy with the present dispensation, Vikramaditya Singh sought intervention” of the Centre in addressing regional aspirations of people of the State. “Who is happy in Jammu and Kashmir. All the three regions are pulling in different directions. Regional identities need to be respected and Government of India should take urgent steps to address this issue,” he explained while indirectly supporting the demand of regional autonomy.
However, he refused to comment on the issue of Article 35-A of the Indian Constitution and only said that the matter was sub-judice and the Apex Court has to take a decision on the same.
Remembering PDP founder and the former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as a man with vision who wanted to connect the hearts of the people, Vikramaditya Singh said that with the death of the former, the situation has changed drastically and the present leadership has completely failed in vision of the party founder.
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