Vikramaditya Singh, a Member of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council and grandson of state's former ruler Maharaja Hari Singh, on Sunday resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) due to differences with Mehbooba Mufti-led party over Jammu-centric issues.
Singh, whose father is senior Congress leader Karan Singh, announced his decision to leave the Legislative Council and the party in Jammu today. He had joined the party three years ago ahead of 2014 Assembly election.
He told reporters that he has written a letter to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti highlighting the issues over which serious differences had arisen between him and the party.
In his letter, he said the demand of the people of Jammu to declare a state holiday on September 23 to commemorate the birthday of the former Dogra Maharaja Hari Singh, the inclusion of the period of Dogra rule in text books and the issue of Rohingya settlers in Jammu were emotional issues close to the heart of Jammu people.
“I feel it is neither morally nor ethically right for me to continue as a member of of the PDP. I therefore tender my resignation from the party… with immediate effect,” he said in the letter that he also posted on his Twitter account.
He told reporters that there was a growing regional divide in the state which can be bridged by addressing the issues highlighted by him.
He said he had written to senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders too asking them to address these issues but there had been no response from them.
"Mehbooba Mufti is the chief of the entire state and not just of one region."
Singh had joined the PDP at a function in in 2014 and was welcomed in the party by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and party president Mehbooba Mufti.
