J&K Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh Saturday found himself in a tight spot after large number of slogan shouting activists belonging to different organisations heckled him in front of the king size statue of Mahajara Hari Singh near Tawi bridge.
These activists were furious over the State Governments’ failure to declare September 23, birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh, a State holiday.
Anger was brewing in Jammu against the BJP-PDP alliance Government for a long time as they were deliberately ignoring the sentiments attached with the Dogra ruler of the State.
BJP too had not anticipated such an emotional outpouring against the party as their own party MlC Ajatshatru Singh had moved a private members resolution in the Upper House of the State Assembly in January 2017 seeking announcement of State holiday on September 23.
Another grandson, currently PDP MlC, Vikramaditya Singh had also shot-off an open letter to the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti raising the demand to announce September 23 a State holiday but he too failed to convince her party president to acknowledge the sentiments of people of Jammu region.
Cornered, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh had also written a separate letter to the Chief Minister on September 21 to save his own skin and public wrath.
But on saturday the venue of birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh became a battle ground where leaders belonging to different parties converged to play ‘dirty politics’ and target BJP-PDP alliance Government.
National Conference MlA DS Rana, a close aide of former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, too offered floral tributes to Maharaja. Interacting with reporters he said the State Government should have acknowledged the sentiments of people of Jammu region by declaring September 23 a State holiday. Jammu&Kashmir National Panthers Party, Congress also demanded holiday to mark the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh.
After paying floral tributes to Maharaja Hari Singh, Deputy Chief Minister also made a sincere effort to convince the gathering what steps have been taken to pursue the case of declaring a State holiday on September 23 but no one was prepared to listen to him.
Smelling more trouble, Dr Singh was advised to leave the venue. Policemen present on the spot had to struggle, while escorting him up to his official vehicle. Angry people followed him and created road block in front of his cavalcade.
Several people present there accused BJP of playing second fiddle to PDP in the State Government. Few others demanded resignation from Deputy Chief Minister, while he was offering floral tributes.
Veteran Congress leader and son of Maharaja Hari Singh, Dr Karan Singh also shared his angst in a written statement on saturday. “I am deeply disappointed that despite a widespread and long standing public demand throughout Jammu region for a public holiday on the occasion of the birth anniversary of my respected father, Maharaja Hari Singh, the J&K Government has chosen to ignore this thus, deeply hurting the sentiments of the people of Jammu region. If Kashmir’s sentiments are respected by making Sheikh Abdullah’s birthday a public holiday, there is no reason why Jammu’s sentiments should not be equally respected. This does not bode well for the unity and welfare of the State” stated Dr Karan Singh in his written statement released to the media.
Meanwhile, several socio political organisations and J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu,Panun Kashmir,Trader organisations, Transporters Union Saturday celebrated birth anniversary of Mahajara Hari Singh and sweets were distributed among common people by various associations in market places. J&K High Court Bar Association,Jammu also suspended work in the courts in support of the demand for a state holiday on September 23.