Aiming to play much bigger ‘political’ role in the state politics, senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and sitting MlC Vikramaditya Singh Sunday announced his resignation from the primary membership of the party.
His open rebellion jolted the top brass of the PDP including Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti as he squarely blamed the party leadership for disregarding the demands and aspirations of Jammu region.
His bold step has also stunned state BJP unit as he is expected to channelise the simmering anger against the ruling alliance partners across Jammu region to his maximum advantage in the coming days.
Addressing a Press conference here in Jammu Vikramaditya Singh said, “I have forwarded my resignation to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.”
He also announced his decision to resign from the Jammu & Kashmir legislative Council. He was earlier nominated by the Governor NN Vohra to the upper house of the State legislature.
Elaborating on the reasons behind his disenchantment with the ruling party Singh said, “whenever I touched any Jammu centric issue, I faced criticism from the Government. Instead of supporting me and standing behind me they snubbed me”.
“It is not morally and ethically correct for me to remain in the PDP therefore I decided to quit".
Singh had joined the PDP on 8 August,2014 in the presence of the party's late president Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
Before quitting the party Vikramaditya was vociferously raising issues like Dogra certificate, illegal settlement of Rohingyas in Jammu, ignoring history of Dogras in school text books, demand for public holiday on the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh, discrimination in selections done by Public Service Commission (PSC) etc.
After quitting the ruling party elder son of senior congress leader Dr Karan Singh also sought "urgent intervention" of the Centre in addressing regional issues and claimed that the people of Jammu, ladakh and Kashmir regions were "not happy" with the present dispensation.
Reacting to the questions of media persons and timing behind quitting the PDP, Vikramaditya clarified
"Who is happy with the ruling alliance in Jammu and Kashmir. All the three regions are pulling in different directions. Jammu is demanding complete integration, ladakhis favour Union territory and Kashmiris are looking for a solution. They too are our own people.
"Where is the meeting point and the integrity of the State under the prevailing circumstancesIJ Indian Government should take urgent steps to address the issues," Singh said.
For a long time PDP was working hard to make inroads in Hindu dominated areas of Jammu region and had projected him to shore up its image in the eyes of the electorate. His ouster from the party has dented image of the party at this juncture.
Advocating a solution where people of all the three regions of the State are happy, he said the Government needs to address the aspirations of the people of the regions.
"Whether that means separation (of Jammu region), Union Territory (for ladakh) or a solution to Kashmir issue. The Government need to reach out and address the issues or come out with any other formula," Singh said.
Singh thanked the civil society for their struggle for various issues concerning the people of Jammu, including the demand of public holiday on the Maharaja's birth anniversary.
"We have to continue this agitation till justice is done with Jammu. Till we get the due share, we have to carry on with our struggle, and everyone needs to support me on this," he said.
Remembering PDP founder and the State's former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Singh said "we have completely failed in his vision."
"He wanted to connect the hearts of the people but today we have left every soul with broken heart. We have gone backwards," he said, adding he joined politics on the invitation of Sayeed, but unfortunately "with his death, the situation has changed drastically".
Asked whether he has consulted his father before deciding to resign from the PDP, Singh said his father is the head of their family and no decision is taken without consulting him.
On his future plans, he said his family has a bigger role to play and will work towards fulfilling his responsibility.