A day after rumors were rife that the senior National Conference leader and former MLA Devender Singh Rana have quit from the party and have joined the BJP, the leader on Monday while ‘clearing the dust’ said that he is still into the party’s fold but can sacrifice for the cause of Jammu.
“I am still a provincial president of the party (National Conference) and has not submitted resignation yet, but can make any sacrifice in the interests of Jammu region and its people,” Mr Rana here told reporters.
Mr Rana, a prominent face in Jammu and former political advisor of former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during his tenure, said, “I am still the provincial president of the J&K National Conference.”
“What will I do or will not do, I would share it with all of you (media),” he said while replying to reporters on resigning from the party.
“I will not compromise on issues and aspirations on Jammu,” he added.
Mr Rana was a former MLA from Nagrota constituency.
He however, appealed to all political parties of Jammu region, including the BJP, to unite and adopt the Jammu declaration to safeguard the interests of the region like the people in Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh stood up above their political and religious affiliations and took a stand on issues concerning their regions.
Several political leaders including former minister Choudhary Lal Singh, who heads the Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan Party (DWSP) and is campaigning for Jammu Statehood, former MLC Surinder Choudhary, former Minister Surjit Singh Salathia also met Mr Rana at his residence.
“As long as the interests of Jammu and the aspirations of the people of Jammu region are concerned, there will be no compromise on that and if there is a need to make any sacrifice, I am ready for it,” said Mr Rana.