Jammu: Prof. Bhim Singh, President, J&K National Panthers Party (JKNPP) who attended Prime Minister Modi’s J&K conference on June 24, 2021 in New Delhi expressed no surprise at the indifferent reception of the Indian press to analyze the conduct of J&K political parties’ conference.
Prof.Bhim Singh was the only political activist of Panthers Party among seven participants from J&K who addressed the conference in the presence of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Prof.Bhim Singh expressed no surprise on the silence of media on the behaviour of the participants and the message which the conference conveyed to the people of India. Prof.Bhim Singh expressed surprise that the media failed to catch the contents of the speeches made by representatives of three State recognized political parties namely, National Conference, PDP and the Panthers Party and others during the hot discussion for nearly four hours from 3.00 pm. to 7.00 p.m. Prof.Bhim Singh said that he was very happy and contended that he was the last speaker, who concluded the conference from J&K leaders’ side sitting far behind in the row. Addressing a closed-door meeting of the highest leadership from all nationalist and democratic parties of J&K was a great privilege ‘for me’, he said, to close the discussion from J&K leaders’ side. Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi was the last speaker to address the conference. Prof.Bhim Singh was the only political activist who expressed surprise at the absence of the representatives from Ladakh. Ladakh was also a constituent of J&K State right from 1846 when Maharaja Gulab Singh founded the State of J&K.
Prof.Bhim Singh was the only speaker among J&K leaders who raised the issue of the Instrument of Accession signed by Maharaja Hari Singh on October 26, 1947 which was accepted by the then Governor-General Lord Mountbatten the next day, it has not been approved by the Constituent Assembly of India nor even by the Parliament till date. Prof.Bhim Singh reminded all leaders, historians, political activists of the country that the Instrument of Accession has to be ratified by the Parliament of India after it briefly assumes the charge of a Constituent Assembly. The process has not been completed. He said removal of Article 370 has raised a big question rather than a constitutional question about the Instrument of Accession, adding therein that “the Instrument of Accession was covered in Clause 3 of Article 370. What is the fate of the Instrument of Accession today, question needs to be answered by the Govt. of India and as such what shall be the fate of the Instrument of Accession itself which needs to be approved/cleared by the Constituent Assembly/Parliament of India?” Prof.Bhim Singh also expressed great sympathy with the people and youth of J&K who have been agitating in the streets everywhere in J&K seeking justice, jobs and security.
