Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Feb 5: Former Minister and senior BJP leader, Ch Lal Singh who had maintained a distance from the Party for quite some time, today parted ways with the party and announced to form his new political party soon to contest Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the State.
The former Minister disclosed this during an interview to a news channel today. He said he will field his candidates from both Lok Sabha seats of Jammu region, i. e Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat as well as Kathua -Udhampur-Doda seat.
Ch. Lal Singh, who maintained distance from the party after the infamous Rassana rape and murder issue when his demand for a CBI probe was not conceded by the then Government, had framed Dogra Swabhiman Sangthan (DSS) to fight for the cause of Dogras of Jammu region, who, he said, have been subjected to discriminatory treatment by successive governments since 1947 including that of previous PDP-BJP alliance.
The former Minister said that the registration of his new political party is also in process.
Lal Singh, who gave a clarion call of Dogra unity for their self esteem and rights, made it clear that no compromise will be made with any one on the cause of Jammu and Dogras.
He exuded confidence that balance of power will remain in his hands after the next Assembly poll.
Making it clear that he has parted ways with BJP, Singh said that his election symbol will be now separate than that of BJP. Quitting of party by Lal Singh had become evident two days back when he did not attend Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s rally at Vijaypur. However, BJP State president, Ravinder Raina tried to downplay the same during a press conference yesterday saying that former Minister was indisposed so he could not participate in the rally.
Lal Singh said that he has nothing to take from BJP and let elections be announced and every thing will become crystal clear. He said he has framed a 25 point vision document which will act as roadmap for him and his party in the elections.
“Our election symbol will be Sher -Bakri (Lion and goat) taking water together”. “This is our legacy, legacy of Jammuites and we will take it forward”, he added.
Lal Singh, while giving topmost importance to the cause of Jammu people regretted that Dogra certificates on the basis of which the youth of Jammu region were getting preference in the services in armed forces were done away with. “We will fight for their restoration”, he added.
He said another main agenda of his party will be that the Deputy CMs post will be made Constitutional. “We will strive for creation of two Constitutional posts of DyCM, one for Jammu and another for Kashmir valley so that no region feels discriminated. Moreover our mantra will be equal rights to the people of all three regions to end the regional imbalances.
Making it clear that no Kashmir centric policy will be now tolerated as all Delhi parties right from 1947 gave preference to Kashmir ignoring Jammu and making it a second fiddle to Kashmir, he said “now onwards, it will not be allowed to happen”,.
Lal Singh said his party’s focus will be all 37 Assembly segments of Jammu and 25 point agenda will rid the people of this region of all the scars inflicted upon them over the years.
He said the time has come for Jammuites to show their presence and existence and fix a target and road map for themselves.
Lal Singh, who developed estranged relations with BJP after he was asked to quit his Ministerial berth over Rassana incident asked what was harm in ordering the CBI probe in that case. He said in this incident the actual killers of the girl weren’t traced and it is unfortunate that entire Jammu was dubbed as pro -rapist which can’t be tolerated. He accused BJP of not supporting the people of Jammu on their stand on Rassana issue. “We demanded CBI probe and what was problem in holding the same”, he added.
Lal Singh recalled that some people had said that CBI probe can’t be ordered as matter is sub-judice but added when the demand was made the matter was not in the court.
Lal Singh made it clear that if his party comes to power it will order CBI probe into Rassana issue. He said even CBI probes are held when cases are lying in court also.
In response to a question that former Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti said that she did not allow CBI probe, Singh said the fate of her party is evident as every leader has deserted it and now only three leaders are left in PDP.
Lal Singh, however said that BJP will not be his only rival in the coming elections but he will take on every political party. In response to another question that he was earlier with Tiwari Congress, then joined Congress, later switched over to BJP and now was forming his own party, the former Minister said this has made him fully experienced.
He said if “I will make any compromise that will be for the benefit of the people and not for my personnel end.”
He said the PSC discriminated with Jammu youth and this can’t be tolerated. He also said that he does not believe in brining towering leaders into party fold but the common masses who can make a revolution.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
