JKNPP rues all-part delegation meeting parties only in Kashmir

Party's chairman and former minister Harsh Dev Singh said this move is an insult to political leadership of Jammu region

Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) on Saturday condemned the Union and state governments "decision" to allow political parties to meet the all-party delegation only in Kashmir Valley, terming the move as an "insult" to political leadership of Jammu region.

The government functionaries has conveyed to the Panthers Party that political parties could meet the central delegation only in Kashmir and that meetings in Jammu region are to be held only with the civil society in exclusion of the political class, JKNPP Chairman and Former Minister Harsh Dev Singh told reporters here.

Singh claimed it was Panthers Party which had been repeatedly insisting that an all-party delegation touring the state must also visit Jammu in addition to Kashmir.

He said while the demand had been conceded but the purpose has been defeated.

"We strongly condemned the decision of the Union and state governments to allow the political parties to meet the all- party delegation in Kashmir only. The move is an insult to political leadership of Jammu region," he said.

Alleging the proposition as "motivated and malicious", Singh accused BJP of "manoeuvring such obnoxious moves so as to keep the Jammu based political leadership away from the all-party delegation."

Seeking appointment with the all-party delegation in Jammu for JKNPP, Singh said it was "unfair" to summon the political leadership of Jammu to project the concerns and grievances of Dogra land in Kashmir rather than Jammu itself.

He said, "It was intriguing to note that Panthers Party which had its base in Jammu region and was recognised on the basis of mandate from Jammu region was declined audience with the all party delegation in Jammu".

He expressed dismay that state govt had sent an invitation to the JKNPP to meet the all-party delegation in Kashmir and not in Jammu on September 5 as conveyed by Deputy Commissioner Jammu.

He claimed that the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir made several telephonic calls besides written invitation to Panthers Party for the meeting in Kashmir while the Jammu Divisional Commissioner refused to respond despite repeated calls from the party.