National Panthers Party Chief Professor Bhim Singh passes away at 81

Srinagar: Prof. Bhim Singh, who was founder of Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, passed away here at a hospital in Jammu. He was 81. Singh is survived by his wife and son. The latter lives in London.
rime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha and several politicians including former chief ministers of the erstwhile J&K state on Tuesday expressed grief over the demise of National Panthers Party (NPP) supremo, Prof Bhim Singh, who breathed his last today at his home in Jammu after brief illness.
Prime Minister through his personal twitter handle expressed condolences to Bhim Singh’s family and recalled his interactions with the deceased leader.
“Prof Bhim Singh Ji will be remembered as a grassroots leader who devoted his life for the welfare of Jammu and Kashmir. He was very well read and scholarly. I will always recall my interactions with him. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti,” Narendra Modi tweeted.
Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha in a tweet also expressed condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of grief.
“Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of Prof. Bhim Singh Ji. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family & friends in this hour of grief. Om Shanti,” Office of LG J&K tweeted.
National Conference (NC) president, Dr Farooq Abdullah soon after reaching the Enforcement Directorate’s office here in Raj Bagh for questioning related to JKCA scam case, termed Bhim Singh’s demise as unfortunate and prayed for the eternal peace to the departed soul.
He also conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
National Conference (NC) Vice President and former chief minister, Omar Abdullah through his tweets prayed for eternal peace to departed soul.
“J&K National Panther Party supremo Bhim Singh ji passed away today. My earliest memories of Bhim Singh ji go all the way back to 1984 when he joined with my father to protest the unconstitutional dismissal of the NC government,” Omar tweeted.
“Bhim Singh ji was a unique politician with friends cutting across political & geographic lines. He supported the cause of Jammu with as much ease as he did the cause of Palestinians. From Yassar Arafat to Col. Gaddafi he seemed to have met them all with amazing stories to tell. Politics in J&K will be a bit less interesting with the passing of Bhim Singh ji. I join my father & colleagues in conveying our condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace,” Omar wrote.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti in a tweet said that J&K has lost a legal luminary and a great leader who fought tooth & nail for his people.
“Deeply saddened to know of Prof Bhim Singh’s passing away. J&K has lost a legal luminary & and a great leader who fought tooth & nail for his people. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family,” Mehbooba tweeted
In his condolence message Chairman J&K Peoples Democratic Front (J&K PDF) and former Minister Hakeem Yaseen described Prof.Bhim sing a principled statesman who played a significant role in the socio-political awakening of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. ” Prof.Bhim sing was not only an ace a politician but a lawyer ,an activist and author par excellence ,” Hakeem Yaseen said while paying glowing tributes to him . He said Prof Bhim Singh has immensely contributed in strengthening roots of democracy and secularism in Jammu and Kashmir adding that he always stood for the cause of downtrodden and vehemently raised their voice and note of dissent to seek justice for them .
” His struggle for strengthening secular and democratic values and fight for the cause of downtrodden will be written in golden words in the political history of Jammu and Kashmir,” Hakeem Yaseen maintained. PDF Chairman said that in the demise of Prof.Bhim Sing people have lost a bold voice who fearlessly advocated for justice and rights of the deserving especially belonging to the poor and downtrodden sections of the society . He said .Prof. Bhim Singh has politically and through the judiciary fought for strengthening of democracy and secularism upto his last breath . While expressing heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family, Hakeem Yaseen has prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.