Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: National Panthers Party president Prof Bhim Singh has expressed shock on the eve of the Republic Day of India about the discrimination met with the people of Jammu region at all levels, politically, socially, economically and regionally.
Talking to media-persons here today, the NPP leader demanded immediate delimitation of the Assembly Constituencies without delay which has not been done for the past 30 years in spite of the fact that J&K is integral part of India. He accused Congress, PDP, NC and BJP for this discrimination with the people of Jammu.
He asked the national leadership why only 37 seats in the Assembly for Jammu Pradesh where as 46 seats in the Kashmir valley when population of Jammu is larger and area of Jammu Pradesh is double than that of Kashmir valley. He further asked why not reservation for STs in J&K? He asked why no rotation of seven reserved seats in Jammu Pradesh for the past 20 years?
Prof Singh accused the Central Government and Election Commission of India of playing in the hands of Kashmiri rulers to continue discrimination against Jammu Pradesh which is evident from the fact that four Rajya Sabha seats are being filled by three notifications when the elections are being held in one day, why the same electorates and for the same period, six years. If elections are held through a single notification even 18 MLAs together can elect one Rajya Sabha Member. Three notifications have been issued only to defeat the objective of the Constitution which aims to accommodate smaller parties in the Rajya Sabha. Prof Singh has sought the intervention of Governor NN Vohra.
He warned that reorganization of the State is only way out to resolve all the problems or the Panthers Party shall be left with no alternative but taking to the streets with a message to quit Jammu so that the people of all the three regions shall live in honour and dignity.