BJP, Other Outfits Protest in J-K Over Deputy CM’s ‘Dictators’ Remark on Maharajas

Jammu- A political controversy erupted in Jammu and Kashmir after Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary referred to the region’s former Maharajas as “dictators.” The remark sparked protests from the BJP and various other organizations, with demonstrators demanding an apology.

Veteran Congress leader Dr. Karan Singh, son of the last ruling Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, also condemned Choudhary’s comments and urged him to issue an apology.

Protests were reported from multiple districts, including Jammu and Kathua, where BJP workers took to the streets. The party’s youth wing, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), organized a protest march in Jammu’s Kachi Chawani area, raising slogans against Choudhary. Protesters accused him of insulting the Dogra community by labeling Maharaja Hari Singh a dictator while glorifying those who opposed him as martyrs.

The controversy has reignited historical sensitivities surrounding Jammu and Kashmir’s princely past and the role of the Dogra rulers in the region’s history. As tensions rise, political leaders are urging restraint while the demand for an official clarification or apology from Choudhary continues to grow.