Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party: Difference between revisions

|chairman          =[[Harsh Dev Singh]]  

|president=[[Balwant Singh Mankotia]]|ppchairman        =  

|ideology          =

|website            = {{Ublist|[http://nationalpanthersparty.com Panthers Party Official Website]|[http://tnnpp.in Panthers Party of Tamil Nadu]}}

The '''Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers Party''' is a state political party in the state of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[India]]. The party was founded on 23 March 1982 by Prof. [[Bhim Singh (politician)|Bhim Singh]] and a few prominent youth political personalities of the time including [[Jay Mala]],<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title = Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) – Party History, Symbol, Founders, Election Results and News|url = http://www.elections.in/political-parties-in-india/jammu-and-kashmir-national-panthers-party.html|website = www.elections.in|access-date = 2015-09-26|quote = It was the Bhim Singh-led JKNPP which moved the Supreme Court to hold elections in the militancy-torn Jammu and Kashmir in the historic year 1996. The Chief Election Commission of India was persuaded to conduct elections in the state, only due to the efforts of JKNPP.}}</ref> former President of the Indian Students [[Indian National Congress|Congress]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Bhim greets Atal Bihari on his 84th birthday - Scoop News Jammu Kashmir|url = http://www.scoopnews.in/det.aspx?q=18198|website = www.scoopnews.in|access-date = 2015-09-26}}</ref> Its aim is to "demolish corruption, communalism, criminalization, drug menace" and to establish a real democracy through ultimate revolution.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://nationalpanthersparty.com/history|title = History|access-date = 26 September 2015|website = JK Panthers Party}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/sc-upholds-freeze-on-delimitation-in-jk-till-2026/article876533.ece|title=SC upholds freeze on delimitation in J&K till 2026|last=PTI|newspaper=The Hindu|date=9 November 2010}}</ref> Panthers Party had campaigned for over three decades for the abolition of [[Article 370 of the Constitution of India|Article 370]] and [[Article 35A of the Constitution of India|Article 35A]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2014-11-26|title=JKNPP releases manifesto, promises amendment in Art 370|url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/jknpp-releases-manifesto-promises-amendment-art-370/|access-date=2021-04-12|website=Jammu Kashmir Latest News {{!}} Tourism {{!}} Breaking News J&K|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-07|title=‘I Have Been Fighting In Supreme Court For Many Years For Removing Article 35A’, Bhim Singh Tells PAGD|url=https://kashmirlife.net/i-have-been-fighting-in-supreme-court-for-many-years-for-removing-article-35a-bhim-sells-tells-pagd-251512/|access-date=2021-04-12|website=Kashmir Life|language=en-GB}}</ref> demanding that the special status of the [[State of Jammu and Kashmir]] be revoked,<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2016-10-27|title=NPP pleads for one flag from Kanyakumari to Kashmir|url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/npp-pleads-for-one-flag-from-kanyakumari-to-kashmir/|access-date=2021-04-12|website=Jammu Kashmir Latest News {{!}} Tourism {{!}} Breaking News J&K|language=en-US}}</ref> and for it to be fully assimilated into the [[Republic Of India|Republic of India]]. These demands were finally met by a presidential order in August 2019 that [[Revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir|revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status]]. Panthers Party campaigns for a further division of the [[Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir|Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir]], with the recognition of [[Hindu]]-majority [[Jammu Division]] as a new and separate state of India.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-08-07|title=NPP demands statehood for Jammu|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/npp-demands-statehood-for-jammu-752737.html|access-date=2020-07-17|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-10-26|title='Dogra State Ka Darja Bahal Karo': Protests In Jammu For Separate State|url=https://kashmirobserver.net/2019/10/26/panthers-party-stages-protest-demands-statehood-for-jammu-region/|access-date=2020-07-17|website=Kashmir Observer|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2017, [[Qatar]]'s state-funded [[Al Jazeera]], and [[Turkey]]'s state-run [[Anadolu Agency]], labelled the Panthers Party as a right-wing [[Hindu nationalism|Hindu nationalist]] political party,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/hindu-party-targets-rohingya-in-jammu-kashmir-campaign/744178|title=Hindu party targets Rohingya in Jammu-Kashmir campaign|last=Rafiq|first=Zahid|website=Anadolu Agency|access-date=2017-02-11}}</ref> for its billboard poster campaign, calling for an expulsion of Muslim refugees from [[Jammu Division|Jammu]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/106280/jammu-rohingya-muslim-myanmar-refugee/|title=In Strident Campaign, Jammu Politicians Target Rohingya Muslim Refugees|last=Kaur|first=Nehmat|website=The Wire|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-02-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://scroll.in/latest/828721/posters-come-up-in-jammu-asking-rohingya-muslims-and-bangladeshis-to-leave|title=Posters come up in Jammu asking Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshis to leave|newspaper=Scroll.in|access-date=2017-02-11|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://twocircles.net/2017feb04/404057.html|title=Jammu goes Trump way; political party puts hoardings asking Muslim refugees to leave|last=Hameed Naik|first=Raqib|website=[[Two Circles]]|language=en-US|access-date=2017-02-12}}</ref>

 

In 2017, [[One Love Party|Ankit Love]], the son of Bhim Singh and Jay Mala, announced his candidacy for [[Prime Minister of India]] for the [[2019 Indian general election]].<ref name=":29">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/homeless-mp-candidate-shut-saudi-qatari-brunei-embassies-westminster/02/06/|title=Homeless MP candidate would 'shut down' Saudi, Qatari and Brunei embassies in Westminster|last=Peat|first=Jack|date=2 June 2017|work=The London Economic|access-date=20 July 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/prime-minister-modi-to-face-love-challenge-in-2019-lok-sabha-elections/298050|title=Prime Minister Modi To Face Love Challenge In 2019 Lok Sabha Elections|last=Ganai|first=Naseer|date=24 February 2017|work=[[Outlook India]]|access-date=31 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/LondonLive/status/836553724759724034|title=Ankit Love has announced he's running to be India's next PM.|date=2017-02-28|work=[[London Live (TV channel)|London Live]]|access-date=2017-03-30}}</ref> He became the party's leader on 28 May 2017.<ref name=":29" />

While in opposition they led a series of theatrical protests. In March 2013, Balwant Singh climbed onto his seat and hurled his microphone across the assembly house, leading a protest with the BJP. He demanded a resolution against Pakistan who had condemned India's hanging of Parliament attack terrorist [[Afzal Guru]].<ref>{{Citation|last=CNN-News18|author-link=CNN-News18|title=J&K Assembly BJP, Panthers Party MLAs protest against Pak resolution|date=2013-03-16|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP08DWRKiqQ|access-date=2016-12-20}}</ref> The month after in April 2013, Balwant joined another opposition disruption in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly condemning the death of Indian prisoner Chamel Singh in a Pakistani jail who had been allegedly tortured before his death.<ref>{{Citation|last=New Tang Dynasty Television|author-link=New Tang Dynasty Television|title=Politicians Denounce Death of Indian Farmer Imprisoned in Pakistan|date=2013-04-03|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIk9JzAYrz4&t=1m31s|access-date=2016-12-20}}</ref>

In May 2013, Panthers Party held another protest in the assembly demanding that chief minister [[Omar Abdullah]] resign, claiming his order was responsible for the deaths of five [[Central Reserve Police Force]] personnel in Srinagar.<ref>{{Citation|last=Headlines Today|title=Panthers party demands resignation of J&K chief minister|date=2013-03-14|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsEuyvjpmlA|access-date=2016-12-20}}</ref> Harsh Dev Singh led a walk out protest in October 2013 from the assembly house with the BJP.<ref>{{Citation|last=Kashmir Monitor|title=Panthers party supported by BJP protested and walked out of JK Assembly|date=2013-10-06|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rj8W30vjh4|access-date=2016-12-20}}</ref> They had wanted the Ganaie Committee Report scrapped.

Balwant Singh lead protesters in violent clashes with armed police in his constituency of Udhampur on 16 August 2014.<ref>{{Citation|last=Headlines Today|title=J&K: Panthers Party clashes with cops in Udhampur about Railway Recruitment|date=2014-08-16|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_2bvnmC-0A|access-date=2016-12-20}}</ref> They were protesting against what they claimed was discrimination against youth from Jammu in favor of people from the Kashmir valley in regards to employment opportunities with the Railway Police.

On 24 August 2014 Speaker of the House, Mubarak Gul ordered security guards to forcibly evict Balwant Singh from the assembly when he disturbed proceedings against a bill by Omar Abdullah that had urged India to resume dialogue with Pakistan,<ref>{{Citation|last=NewsX|author-link=NewsX|title='Treacherous' resolution passed by Jammu and Kashmir assembly|date=2014-08-27|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmFhivqYFQw|access-date=2016-12-20}}</ref> instead Balwant wearing a black bandana hawkishly demanded that the assembly condemn ceasefire violations by Pakistan, claiming they were leading to deaths of innocent villagers.<ref>{{Citation|last=TIMES NOW|title=Ruckus in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly|date=2014-08-25|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCwOf1l9s4Y|access-date=2016-12-20}}</ref>

In October 2014, party leader Bhim Singh heavily criticized BJP leader [[Narendra Modi]]'s visit to Jammu and Kashmir, stating he was not "able to play the role of the prime minister," and on his visit should have first met terrorism effected people as opposed to those effected by the recent [[2014 Kashmir Floods|2014 Kashmir floods]].<ref>{{Citation|last=NNIS - News|title=Panthers Party Raps Modi's Kashmir Visit|date=2014-10-23|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBbCdbuv7eU|access-date=2016-12-20}}</ref> In November 2014, he condemned the BJP as a party of "shop keepers" run from [[Nagpur]] by [[Hindu]] [[paramilitary]] group [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|RSS]].<ref>{{Citation|last=NNIS - News|title=Hindustan's Govt Does Not Run From Delhi Bhim Singh|date=2014-11-06|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8V8ipp5_bc|access-date=2016-12-20}}</ref>

=== Farooq Abdullah Guest of Honor at 39th Panthers Party Anniversary Event ===

Prior to being elected President of the Panthers Party, Prof. Bhim Singh was briefly expelled from the Panthers Party by his nephew and party chairman Harsh Dev Singh in Nov 2020, when he had met with Farooq Abdullah at his residence and the rest of the [[People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration|Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration]] in [[Srinagar]], Kashmir.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Bhim Singh’s removal from post of NPP patron ‘unfortunate’: Omar Abdullah|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/j-k/bhim-singhs-removal-from-post-of-npp-patron-unfortunate-omar-abdullah-167940|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-25|website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en}}</ref>