Panthers Party pulls out of ruling coalition in J

Jammu, June 17 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) today withdrew support to the Congress-led coalition government in the state, accusing it of discriminating against Jammu region.

Announcing the decision at a party meeting here, JKNPP chief Bhim Singh said his party had been left with no other option but to withdraw support from the ruling coalition as it had always discriminated against Jammu region.

In the 25-point 'charge sheet', the copy of which has also been presented to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi at New Delhi, the Panthers Party has alleged that the ruling coalition has failed to constitute a delimitation commission and giving equal status to Jammu in decision-making, jobs and development.

Congress' failure in keeping itself away from Peoples Democratic Party's demand for reduction of troops in the state, also figured in the 'charge sheet'.

The party has four members in the 87-member Legislative Assembly.

There were two ministers from JKNPP during the first three years of PDP-led government in the state. But after the transfer of power to the Congress in 2005, no JKNPP MLA was inducted as minister. Since then, Mr Singh had been threatening to withdraw support to Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad-led government in the state.

The pull out will not affect the state coalition as it still enjoys the support of 56 members.

Now, of the 56 MLAs constituting the coalition, 31 are from the Congress, 18 from PDP, two CPI-M and rest five are independents.

The opposition comprises of 25 members of the National Conference (NC) while Jammu State Morcha (JSM) and the BJP have one each legislator.

UNI