Anger is brewing in the Jammu region following the PDP-BJP coalition government’s cold response to the demand for declaring a state holiday on September 23, which is the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh.
Facing criticism for allegedly succumbing to separatists on the issue, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh wrote a letter to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti as a “damage-control” exercise. However, his letter, sent at the eleventh hour, proved to be “counter-productive” as the people lashed out at him for the delayed response.
“The resolution was passed in the Legislative Council on January 24 and the Deputy CM wrote the letter on September 21. This reflects the BJP’s approach on the issue,” said Trilochan Singh Wazir, chairman of the State Gurdwara Parbandhak Board.
“It is ridiculous that the Deputy Chief Minister is writing the letter as a petitioner to the Chief Minister and later making it public,” said Zorawar Singh Jamwal, chairman of Team Jammu. “By doing this cosmetic exercise, Nirmal Singh is trying to skirt his responsibility as a representative of the people of Jammu,” he said, adding that, “Had the Deputy CM been so serious on the issue, he could have raised it in a Cabinet meeting?”
Rajput Sabha president Narayan Singh also lambasted Nirmal Singh, claiming he was trying to hoodwink the people.
Meanwhile, Panthers Party today asked Ajatshatru Singh and Vikramaditya Singh, grandsons of Hari Singh, to resign as MLCs from the BJP and PDP, respectively. It was Ajatshatru who had moved the resolution for declaring a holiday on September 23.
“Both MLCs should resign from their parties as a mark of protest as the state government has not declared a holiday,” Harsh Dev Singh, chairman of Panthers Party, said.
Nirmal Singh’s letter to Mehbooba Mufti over holiday issue draws flak
