Bhim Singh calls on Rajnath, seeks fresh Assembly polls

Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Feb 16: Chief patron of National Panthers Party Prof Bhim Singh called on the Union Minister for Home Affairs, Rajnath Singh today and made a strong appeal for holding fresh Assembly election in J&K.
A party spokesman said that during meeting Prof Singh expressed serious concern over the present political situation in J&K and sought the dissolution of Assembly and fresh elections. He said there is need to remove political uncertainty.
Prof Singh urged the Home Minister to intervene so that the local press, public propaganda and the media shall not undermine the nationalist spirit of the Kashmiris. He accused the ruling elite and the press for defaming the opposition leaders and politicians who do not subscribe to the ideology of the ruling clique. He said that any person in Kashmir Valley who is opposed to the ruling clique and does not accept their anti-people policy is being denounced as a ‘separatist’. Similarly, those who do not agree with the policies of the ruling clique for being denounced as communalists. He said that ruling class has been exploiting the J&K people ever since Maharaja Hari Singh acceded to the Union of India.
NPP leader said that people of J&K whether in Ladakh, Kashmir Valley or in Jammu Pradesh have been living with dignity as citizens of India yet some angry leaders in Kashmir Valley are being denounced as separatists. He urged the Home Minister to intervene in this matter so that no Indian citizen in J&K is denounced or charged as anti-national or as a ‘separatist’. He also made a strong appeal to the media and commercial politicians to stop using contemptuous remarks against the Kashmiri leaders by calling them separatists. He described this as a conspiracy to give an impression to the world that some Kashmiri leaders are against Indian nationalism.
Prof Singh urged the Union Home Minister to intervene in person, utilize the services of the J&K Police only to deal with local unrest or in law and order situation. He also urged the Union Home minister to advice the J&K Governor to constitute an all party consultation committee in J&K so that the genuine civil/political representatives of all the three regions could be involved and the day to day issues could be settled peacefully and respectfully between the Governor’s administration and the civil society.