March-20 : Tea with The Tribune Harsh Dev: Panthers’ MLA

Tea with The Tribune
Harsh Dev: Panthers’ MLA
‘Absenteeism from Assembly uncalled for’

In a tete-a-tete with The Tribune team, Harsh Dev Singh, Panthers Party MLA from the Ramnagar constituency (Udhampur) and former Education Minister, talked about his life and career.
Senior Panthers’ leader Harsh Dev Singh
Senior Panthers’ leader Harsh Dev Singh

Harsh Dev is one of the most vocal and grilling members of the Assembly. He has won the best legislator award and his questions regarding problems of commoners are well received by all political parties.

Born in a political family, Harsh began his career as a student leader, practiced as an advocate for a few years before becoming a full-time politician. He has remained Education Minister in the coalition government from 2002-05. He has been elected to the Assembly for the third consecutive time.

Three students from Sudesh Rani (SR) Public School too joined The Tribune team during the interaction.

Following are the excerpts:

Jupinderjit Singh (JJS): You began your political career as a student leader. Are present day students resorting to agitations too early for the acceptance of their demands?

Senior Panthers’ leader Harsh Dev Singh in conversation with The Tribune team in Jammu. Senior Panthers’ leader Harsh Dev Singh in conversation with The Tribune team in Jammu. Tribune photos: Anand Sharma

Harsh Dev Singh (HDS): It all depends where the students and their leaders are channelising their energy. They have the right to agitate, but only if it is justified. It should be the last resort. But then, no one hears unless you agitate. Real leaders emerge when their cause is justified.

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): You were awarded the best legislator award in the previous term. Do you agree the standard of debate, proceedings and conduct has fallen in the Assembly. Members don’t take question hour seriously and even senior leaders are absent?

HDS: It is really unfortunate. What shocks me the most is that even Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has remained away from the house during the current session. It is uncalled for. Though ministers and the CM get information of the proceedings from officials, secondhand information is never complete. Legislators raise questions and issues of public importance and the CM and others, including the opposition members, should be there to listen.

The standard of debate is falling as legislators are not doing their homework properly. Participating in discussions of the Assembly is not an easy job. One has to be aware of all issues.

RKK: There are too many walkouts, noises in the House by the opposition. Criticising the government is fine, but should it be on every issue? Whose purpose is solved with walkouts?

HDS: It is because the ruling party often adopts an escapist attitude because we in the opposition are well-versed with the problems and issues haunting the common man. However, I believe that walkouts and pandemonium actually help the government as they don’t have to reply to questions or debate on Bills and public issues. But we have no other resort.

Akshat (student): Our teachers reprimand us when we make noise in the classroom. Can’t the legislators go about the proceedings politely?

HDS: Shouting becomes necessary when you are not being heard or when you have no means to stop a wrong. The government tries to clear Bills and laws that suit them. To prevent a major wrong doing, we have to shout and resort to other means of protest.

Ashutosh Sharma (AS): There is no ruckus when the legislators have to increase their salaries to which all agree and in one voice. Why?

HDS: Legislators have to meet several expenses. It increasingly becomes difficult for us. At the same time, I have been stressing that the salary hike should be proportionate. It should be for all, not just for legislators.

Dinesh Manhotra (DM): As an Education Minister, you took several new initiatives. What is their fate now?

HDS: In my tenure from 2002-05, as many as 32,000 teachers were recruited and there was not a single allegation of favouritism or corruption. We opened 10,000 new schools and 22 colleges. I have seen people remember good work. I always give advice to my fellow legislators to work for public. That is how I have got elected thrice.

I also started many new add-on courses. The Central government is now introducing those courses through the central universities. I was the first to introduce web designing, TV and computer courses. Nearly 80 per cent of those courses have now been discontinued.

Sunaina Kaul (SK): The Central government has either abolished or abolishing board examinations for higher classes to reduce stress on students. But Jammu and Kashmir is going the other way by starting board examinations for classes III and V.

HDS: This is illogical. I don’t think any good would come out of it. It would put extra burden on children and parents, besides state exchequer.

Rajat (student): Do you support the move of uniform syllabus in the country for classes XI and XII?

HDS: Yes, it is a step in right direction. Uniformity will help all. It will also bring government school on a par with private schools.

JJS: You did a lot to improve government schools. Would you send your children to a government school?

HDS: My two sons are studying in Delhi Public School. Government schools are no match to private schools, which are far better in imparting education and overall development of a child.

Smiley Gupta (student): A highly controversial and anti-women Bill that disqualifies a woman from permanent resident status if she marries a non-state resident man. What is you party’s stand on it?

HDS: We are opposing it and I assure you we will not let it become a law. It is shocking that on one hand, the Central government has passed in the Rajya Sabha a Bill for 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and here, we have taken a step backwards.

JJS: But has the state subject-hood or Article 370 helped the common person in the state?

HDS: It has been misused all this time. Some political parties are using it as a tool to hurt the sentiments of the masses for their personal gains.

Dinesh Manhotra (DM): How many women leaders are there in your party?

HDS: Just one, but we are looking for talent. We admit that women have already outshone men in all departments and only political field has left.

Ashutosh Sharma: Talking about the Panther’s Party, it is often said you are the right man in the wrong party?

HDS: It doesn’t matter at all where you are. But, what matters is how you have been performing the role you are assigned. I feel contended with what I have been doing as people acknowledge my efforts aimed at their welfare. It is not about being in a party that is likely to be in power. It is about doing your bit wherever you are comfortable.

My father, Thakur Dass, was a Congressman first, but later he left it. Then my paternal uncle, Prof Bhim Singh floated the Panthers Party in 1996, and now we are three MLAs in the legislature.

Archit Watts (AW): What are the future plans of your party? Do you plan to form a third front in the state to wrest favour from the NC-Congress or the PDP?

HDS: It all depends on people. We want people to support our candidates from all constituencies so that we can form a government on our own.

DM: Don’t you think that there is a need to bring all Jammu-based local parties on a single platform to form a front?

HDS: Yes, all Jammu-based groups have to come on a single platform to effectively take up issues of this region. Earlier, some efforts were made in this regard, but could not be materialised. As far as the Panthers Party is concerned, we are ready to take an initiative in this regard.