Bhim Singh (politician)

Bhim Singh (born August 17, 1937) (Dogri: भीम सिंह) is an Indian politician, activist, lawyer and author. He is the Chairman of the Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers Party, a political organisation based in India in state of Jammu and Kashmir.[1] He is a descendant of General Zorawar Singh[2][3] referred to by historians as "Conqueror of Ladakh" and the "Napoleon of India" for his early 19th century conquests of the Himalayan states of Ladakh, Tibet and Baltistan.[4][5]

Early life and career

Already as a college student Bhim Singh was a political activist going on hunger strike as early as 1959[6] and then was arrested in 1966 for protests while President of the Students Organization.[7] Soon after he left India to travel the world from 1967 to 1972. Mostly by the way of motorbike he managed to visit more than a 140 countries. During his travels he was recorded by the Nigerian Times in 1970 as the first person to cross the Sahara Desert on motorcycle from Tan-Tan, Morocco to Senegal through Spanish Sahara and Mauritania. In Chile he was personally received by its then President Salvador Allende, and in the Middle East he met with Yasir Arafat who later accepted Bhim Singh's invitation to India.[8] On his travels he attended the University of London earning an LL.M and later in 1972 was called to the bar at law as a specialist on Palestine and Middle East affairs. His book documenting the travels "Peace Mission: Around the World on Motorcycle" was published by Har Anand Publications in 2009.[9] A Hindi version for the book was released a year later by Sheila Dikshit Chief Minister of Delhi. At the book release K. Padmanabhaiah former Home Sectary of India recalled Singh's contributions to reinstating the democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir in the 1996 assembly elections which were held after a gap of nine years.[10]

Career

He has twice served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. He has won many landmark cases in the Supreme Court of India and has been jailed many times while leading movements for students and youth demands including opening a university in Jammu. He was awarded compensation of fifty thousands rupees by the Supreme Court of India for his illegal detention in 1985 by the Jammu and Kashmir Government.[11] Bhim Singh is a member of National Integration Council, first in 1991 nominated by Prime Minister of India Narasimha Rao, and then again in 2008 nominated by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.[12][13]

Jammu and Kashmir state assembly 2002-2008

In Jammu and Kashmir state assembly elections, 2002 the party which he heads the Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers Party won four seats in the state government enabling them to be part of the ruling coalition.[14] In 2007 he withdrew support to the Congress Party lead coalition citing differences with the Peoples Democratic Party another member of the coalition.[15] The state government fell soon after when the PDP itself withdrew their support from the Congress Party during the Amarnath land transfer controversy placing the state under direct rule of the central government for a few month prior to the Jammu and Kashmir state assembly elections, 2008.[16]

Human rights lawyer

He is a human rights activist and lawyer in the Supreme Court of India. His PIL have got relief to thousands of helpless prisoners, farmers, employees, and youth all over the country. Hundreds of Pakistani and POK prisoners got freedom from jails on his petitions in the Supreme Court. He is also Chairman of the executive Committee of Legal aid with Chief Justice Bhagwati who described Bhim Singh, "as crusader for truth and justice."

Dogra Ratan Awards

He is the Convenor of the Council for Promotion of Dogri Language, Culture and History a body which awards the Dogra Ratan awards. In 2011 the President of India Pratibha Patil, presented the awards at the General Zorawar Singh Auditorium.[17][18]

Controversies

Volcker Report

In 2005 he was called ‘Vishwa Ratna,’ as possibly the only person in the world who could refuse 7.3 million barrels of oil vouchers as illustrated in Table 3 of Vol.II in the report of the UN Committee dealing with Oil-for-food program headed by Paul Volcker during sanctions placed on Iraq.[19] In essence saying no to 146 million dollars worth of oil vouchers which could have earned him about 9 million dollars in commission. Neither was he served notice to appear in front of the United Nations investigation on the matter.[20]

Books

Notes

  1. ↑ "Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers Party". JKNPP. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  2. ↑ Dewanji, Amberish (June 22, 2000). "Bhim Singh flays autonomy bill". Rediff (J). Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Prof. Bhim Singh:: The Panthers Party:: Personality of Jammu province". Jammu Times. J. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  4. ↑ Sharma, Shiv (2008). India - A Travel Guide. India: Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. p. 190. ISBN 8128400673.
  5. ↑ Singh, Harbakhs (2010). War Despatches: Indo-Pak Conflict 1965. India: Lancer International, Lancer Press. p. 304. ISBN 1935501291.
  6. ↑ "I did not receive any notice: Bhim Singh". Jammu Kashmir Newspoint (JK Media Group). November 6, 2005. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  7. ↑ Kunwar Bhim Singh vs State Of Jammu And Kashmir And Anr. (JKHC May 12, 1966) (“The liberty of a subject is the most precious achievement of a democracy and depriving a person of his free movements should sparingly be re-sorted to.”). Text
  8. ↑ "Arjun Singh releases Bhim Singh's Book "Around the World on Motorcycle"". News Blaze (Alan Gray). January 10, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  9. ↑ Bhim, Singh (2008). Peace Mission Around the World on Motorcycle 1. Har-anand Publications. p. 320. ISBN 8124114323.
  10. ↑ "Sheila Dikshit releases Bhim Singh’s book". The Hindu (The Hindu Group). April 10, 2010. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  11. ↑ Khosa, Aasha (May 2, 2006). "Bhim Singh seeks damages from Pathak panel". The Indian Express (The Indian Express Group). Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  12. ↑ "PM nominates Bhim Singh". News Blaze (Alan Gray). October 8, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  13. ↑ Saraf, Pushp (June 4, 1994). "Migration from Doda takes explosive turn". The Indian Express (The Indian Express Group). Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Panthers Party to contest 5 seats in J&K". The Hindu (The Hindu Group). March 22, 2004. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  15. ↑ Santoshi, Neeraj (June 18, 2007). "Panthers Party withdraws support to J-K coalition". The Indian Express (The Indian Express Group). Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  16. ↑ Amarnath row divides Jammu and Kashmir NDTV, 16 August 2008
  17. ↑ "Dogra Rattan Awards presented". Kashmir Times (Kashmir Times). November 24, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Eight to get Dogra Rattan Award". The Tribune (Tribune Trust). November 24, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Volcker Report names Natwar Singh and Congress Party as "beneficiaries"". The Hindu (The Hindu Group). October 29, 2005. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  20. ↑ Praveen, Swami (November 6, 2005). "I did not receive any notice: Bhim Singh". The Hindu (The Hindu Group). Retrieved March 15, 2012.