JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) is a regional political party of India. It is one of the prominent political parties in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The founder of the JKNPP is Prof. Bhim Singh, who was initially a member of the Congress and represented the party as an MLA in the J&K State Legislative Assembly. However due to political differences between the state Congress and Singh, over protecting the economic, social and political interests of the people of the state. Singh resigned from the Congress and formed his own party.
In March 1982, a historic meeting was held in the Jammu Gulab Bhawan, being chaired by Bhim Singh and attended by some of the prominent individuals such as distinguished scholar Ghulam Nabi Goni, Faqir Nath, Mool Raj, Janak Singh, Javed Quadri, Jay Mala, Sudarshan Sambyal, Father Aziz William and many others. The meeting unanimously supported Bhim Singh's call to establish a strong opposition to the Sheikh Abdullah-led Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), and form a party with a differenceThe party was officially formed on 23rd March 1982. The 23rd March was chosen as it was an auspicious day of martyrdom of the revolutionary freedom fighters Rajguru, Sukhdev and Bhagat Singh. The party upheld a secular-nationalist-democratic manifesto, such that it could represent the political identities of the three regions of the state, namely, Ladakh, Jammu Pradesh and Kashmir.
The name of the party is significant. It was originally registered as the Jammu and Kashmir Panthers Party. Its name was changed to the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party in 1996, as approved by the Election Commission of India. Bhim Singh believes that the inclusion of the name of an animal 'panther' was significant, as the JKNPP was formed to combat the misdoings of one animal, Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Abdullah of the JKNC by another animal, the panthers.
Presently, the JKNPP is the main opposition to the ruling JKNC, having had a remarkable electoral performance in the 2009 state elections. The present President of the JKNPP is Balwant Singh Mankotia.
Election Symbol and its significance
The Election Symbol of the JKNPP, as approved by the Election Commission of India, is the "Bicycle". This symbol is significant as it represents the true spirit of the party. The JKNPP has its political lineage from the revolutionary ideals of Baba Saheb Ambedkar's ideology of standing up for the rights and privileges of the marginalized and oppressed sections of the society. His movement, called the Dalit Panthers, was directed to fight against fascist, anarchist, communal and authoritarian tendencies prevailing in the country at that time. In the same spirit, the JKNPP is resolved to unite in protest for the maintenance of peace and security, as well as prosperity for the three regions of the state of J&K. The JKNPP proved its mettle when, led by Bhim Singh, it fiercely revolted against the Resettlement Act which the JKNC wanted to implement in the state. The Election Symbol of the JKNPP is thus significant, as it symbolizes the march of the JKNPP, towards overall progress and development of the various communities of the state. Like a bicycle which is used as a vehicle to reach a destination, the JKNPP ensures that reaches its destination of achieving justice through rebellion. More importantly, the JKNPP has as its ultimate objective, the establishment of "a real democracy through ultimate revolution".
Leaders of JKNPP
The leaders of the JKNPP, who are also the national executives of the party, are listed below:
Prof. Bhim Singh, Founder and Chief Patron of JKNPP
He is a two-time MLA in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. He is a Human Rights activist and lawyer by profession, practising in the Supreme Court of India. Bhim Singh has remained a two-time member of the National Integration Council, nominated by Prime Minister Narasimha Rao in 1991 and by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in 2008, respectively. He remained the Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party from its inception till 1996, though he continued till 2012. Currently, he is the Chief Patron of the JKNPP.
Harsh Dev Singh, Chairman of JKNPP
A lawyer by profession and was an Education Minister in the Congress-PDP government in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, headed by the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. He was adjusted as best legislator in the history of J&K legislature (1996-2002). He was a three-time MLA in the J&K Legislative Assembly, represented the Ramnagar constituency.
Balwant Singh Mankotia, President of JKNPP (two times MLA from Udhampur)
He was a Member of the Legislative Assembly in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, representing the Udhampur constituency. Although he took over as President of the JKNPP in 2010, he was elected in 2013 by a majority of the members of the party.
The Office bearers of J&K National Panthers Party
As on 23rd March, 2015
Chief Patron
Prof. Bhim Singh, the Founder of JKNPP.
Chairman, Shri Harsh Dev Singh, Vice Chairman, Shri B.B.Kotwal,Advocate, President, Shri Balwant Singh Mankotia.
Vice Presidents, Shri Navin Bakshi, Mohd. Iqbal Chowdhary, Shri P.K. Ganjoo, Shri Sudarshan Singh Jamwal & Masood Andrabi
General Secretaries, Ms. Anita Thakur, Shri Yashpal Kundal (two times MLA from Samba) Shri H.C. Jalmeria, Adv., Shri G.M. Shan, Adv., Shri Shanti Swaroop Basotra & Shri Manjoor Naik.
State Secretaries, Shri Basharat Ali, Shri Sukhdev Singh, Shri R.S. Manjoo, Mehboob Illahi, Shri Jagdev Singh, Shri Balwan Singh, Shri Maqbool Malik, Shri Kuldip Sharma.