Seeking support for his son Vikramaditya Singh, the Congress candidate from Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat, senior party leader Karan Singh Tuesday said the grand old party was the only binding force between the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir.
The grandson of erstwhile Maharaja Hari Singh, VikramadityaSingh will take on Union minister Jitendra Singh in the Udhampur-Dodaparliamentary constituency, where polling will be held on April 18.
“The Congress is the only binding force between thethree regions of Jammu and Kashmir,” Karan Singh said during an interactionwith a delegation from Kishtwar and Doda districts here.
He further described the party as a “guarantee topeace, communal harmony and brotherhood”.
Karan Singh said the Congress leadership has always workedhard to ensure that all sections of the society get equal empowermentopportunities.
“The Congress always played its part in thedevelopmental sector, not only in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, but in theentire country,” he said.
“The developmental works started under the ableleadership of former prime minister Manmohan Singh have proved to be thebackbone of India’s economy,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Vikramaditya Singh promised thatif the Congress is voted to power at the Centre, it will empower the state’syouth and women to take Jammu and Kashmir on the path of growth anddevelopment.
“Our focus shall be on creating state and district-wisemicro development plans,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan’s (DSS) Lal Singh, alsoa contender from the Udhampur-Doda seat, asked Vikramaditya Singh to withdrawhis candidature and resign from the Congress on “moral grounds”.
“Vikramaditya should resign from the Congress if he remembersthe role played by the Congress in the exile of Maharaja Hari Singh. It istotally unethical that the he is contesting the election, like his father, onthe Congress ticket,” Lal Singh told reporters after filing his nominationpapers before the returning officer, Kathua.
The DSS leader alleged that the Congress is responsible for”all the problems” of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Congress was responsible for the exile of Maharajaand his scion is contesting from Udhampur seat on Congress ticket. Earlier thisscion was with the PDP, which has exposed itself before the people ofJammu,” Lal Singh said.
He exuded confidence that he would win from theUdhampur-Doda seat, which he has represented twice before as a Congresscandidate.
Results for the Lok Sabha polls will be announced on May 23.