Sham Lal quits Congress post, claims party ignoring Jammu

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 21

Amid raging debate in the state over “discrimination” against the Jammu and Ladakh regions, senior vice-president of the Congress Sham Lal Sharma on Monday resigned from the party post, charging the leadership with ignoring the core issues of Jammu.

Sources said Sharma had submitted his resignation to the party high command as well as the J&K Pradesh Congress Committee chief for further action. However, no party leader officially confirmed his resignation.

The sources said Sharma had sent his resignation to Congress president Rahul Gandhi in which he had highlighted the Kashmir-centric approach of the state leadership despite the fact that the party had a huge potential to retrieve its lost ground in the Jammu region.

“In the letter, Sharma has mentioned that the party legislators have failed to strike a balance between all three regions of the state, including Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh,” the sources said, adding that he had informed the Congress chief that during the past three years, the party leadership had failed to highlight issues pertaining to the Jammu region in the Assembly.

“Instead of giving importance to the issues pertaining to the Jammu region, the Congress leadership is following Valley-centric policies while ignoring suggestions of local leaders,” a source said, adding, “Sharma is also annoyed with interference of some senior leaders in appointment of office-bearers.”

The sources said the high command was unlikely to accept the resignation of Sharma who is the party’s face in the region.

“Keeping in view the brewing anger against the BJP in Jammu, the Congress is in a desperate need of leaders, such as Sham Lal, who can cash in on pro-Jammu sentiments,” the sources said.

Submits resignation to Rahul Gandhi

• Sham Lal Sharma has sent his resignation to Congress president Rahul Gandhi in which he has highlighted the Kashmir-centric approach of the state leadership 
• Sharma is reportedly upset over ignorance of issues pertaining to the Jammu region
• Sharma is also annoyed with unnecessary interference in appointment of office-bearers