Not BJP's exclusive govt: heckled Nirmal clarifies

Jammu: Clarifying the BJP's stand on declaration of State Holiday on Maharaja Hari Singh's birthday, Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh said that it was not BJP's exclusive government in J&K and demand of holiday was BJP's agenda and not the PDP's issue.
Earlier today the Deputy Chief Minister was booed away by some people who felt BJP as a coalition ally in the government has failed to get the 'holiday' on the Birth day of the Maharajha Hari Singh- a long pending demand of people of region.
"If BJP alone was in power in the state, we would have definitely declared Sep 23 as State Holiday, but we have to keep in mind that it is coalition government in the state," said Dr Nirmal Singh, while talking to the News Now after he was forced to leave the venue of Maharaja Hari Singh's birth anniversary celebrations on the bank of River Tawi, where he witnessed a strong protest from activists of various organizations.
When asked, if today's protest against him was fury of Jammuites against BJP, Deputy CM blaming opposition for the same, said, "When I reached the venue, 90 percent it was all ok, but it was all instigated by the opposition as many opposition leaders and their activists were present on the spot.
"I have authentic CID report that it was well planned," Dr Singh categorically added.
"Now, when it comes to the declaration of State Holiday on the birth anniversary of the Maharaja, I just want to ask this question to Congress, NC and JKNPP, why these parties which were in power since last 70 years, haven't moved a single step in this regard," Dr Singh said, further adding, "we (BJP) have to take it to the conclusion and it will be done soon."
He said, "Keeping in view the aspirations of the people of region in the wake, we (BJP) will raise the issue in Cabinet as well as in Assembly."
At the same time he reminded that he also had written a letter to CM Mehbooba Mufti regarding demand of state holiday on Sep 23, although she has not denied the demand of holiday but the issue was only delayed.
Furious after he was heckled by some activists at Jammu City, Dr Nirmal Singh said, "I challenge NC that if their leaders Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah and Congress state president, GA Mir declare that they want holiday on Maharaja's birthday, I will declare it today only."
"This is nothing and just a part of petty politics on the name of the great Maharaja Hari Singh," said Dr Nirmal Singh while adding, " "Even, I do have due respects for Maharaja, but I never did politics on his name."
Earlier, in the afternoon, Deputy CM Nirmal Singh was heckled by activists of various Dogra community members over the state government's "failure" to declare Maharaja's birth anniversary as a state holiday.
In an aberrant incident, when the Dy CM was speaking at a function after paying floral tributes to Maharaja scores of people, including youths wearing black T-shirts and carrying saffron flags, raised slogans against Singh and the PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir. The minister was forced to cut short his speech and was escorted out by a large contingent of police. The agitated protestors seemingly were not satisfied with this and thus they blocked Tawi Bridge for around an hour and then dispersed in the shape of rally to register their resentment.
Among the protestors who raised slogans against PDP-BJP govt one Sunil Singh told The News Now that they are demanding resignation of all BJP Minister's and accused the BJP of doing "dis-service" to the Jammu region, which has catapulted BJP to power and to be part of the state government for the first time.
"We will not spare BJP for this surrender against Kashmiri rulers," agitated Singh added.