Vikramaditya Singh, Son of Ex-Min Karan Singh, Quits Cong, Says Party ‘Disconnected’ With J&K’s Realities

Vikramaditya Singh, the Congress leader and grandson of erstwhile Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday announced his resignation from the grand old party and said his views on critical issues related to Jammu and Kashmir don’t align with the party. Vikramaditya, who is the elder son of veteran Congress leader and former union minister Karan Singh, has also accused the party of remaining “disconnected with ground realities”.

Taking to Twitter, he said, “I hereby tender my resignation from the Indian National Congress. My position on critical issues vis-à-vis Jammu & Kashmir which reflect national interests do not align with that of the Congress Party. @INCIndia remains disconnected with ground realities.”

“It is my belief that INC is unable to realize and reflect the sentiments and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said in the letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Vikramaditya also said that he had expressed views in support of Balakote airstrikes, revocation of Article 370-35A among several other issues after joining the Congress. “After joining INC, I expressed views in support of several issues that haven’t aligned with Congress’ stand. These include Balakote airstrikes, revocation of Article 370-35A, formation of Ladakh UT, condemnation of Gupkar Alliance and support for delimitation process,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Speaking on the G-23 leaders, he said, “There are many accomplished Congress leaders in G-23 and ignoring them is a big mistake. If you don’t change with time, don’t keep public and youth aspirations in mind, you will fade away. If a group has emerged to give suggestions to high command, party should cooperate.”

He also spoke on movie ‘The Kashmir Files’ and said that it is sad to see that the Congress is still “not accepting the repercussions of the Kashmiri genocide”. “I haven’t watched the film ‘The Kashmir Files’…but I was in Srinagar till 1989… It’s sad that Congress is still in denial and is not accepting the repercussions of the Kashmiri genocide,” he was quoted as saying after resigning from the part. The film, directed by Vivek Agnihotri and starring Anupam Kher, has reignited a debate surrounding the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir Valley.

Vikramaditya had joined the PDP in August 2015 and was a member of the state Legislative Council. He resigned from the party in October, 2017, saying it wasn’t possible for him to continue with the PDP which “disregarded the demands and aspirations of Jammu region”.

He then joined the Congress and had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election from the Udhampur constituency of Jammu and Kashmir from the Congress.

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