STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: The India Meteorological Department (IMD), MET center Srinagar, has issued a nowcast update predicting moderate to heavy rainfall with thunderstorms in Rajouri, Ramban, Reasi and Udhampur districts of Jammu region over the next 2-3 hours.
This weather alert also warns of potential flash floods, landslides, mudslides and shooting stones in vulnerable areas.
As such, the concerned authorities have been requested to take necessary measures to ensure public safety and minimize risk. The people are advised to stay cautious and avoid unnecessary travel, especially in areas prone to landslides and flash floods.
The situation is being closely monitored, and preventive actions will be initiated wherever required. J&K Legislative Assembly, Singh’s tenure was marked by his consistent advocacy for equitable treatment of the Jammu region – a long-standing sentiment among the people of the area who have often felt politically marginalised in Kashmir-centric political order. His political presence, therefore, carries symbolic as well as functional value for the BJP’s “nation-first” agenda in J&K.
Prof Singh’s potential elevation to the Rajya Sabha comes at a time when the BJP is reorienting its political apparatus in this part of the country.
After Kavinder Gupta’s appointment as LG of Ladakh, there is a perceptible momentum within the party to reward and reposition trusted lieutenants who not only share ideological fidelity but also possess the administrative and political experience. Nirmal Singh would be an ideal choice to represent the political aspirations of Jammu at the national level; act as a bridge between the political class of Jammu and the central leadership in Delhi, and offer strategic input on Kashmir’s political sensitivities, drawing on his experience of having engaged with Kashmir-centric parties and politicians.
Singh’s inclusion in the national decision-making space would also send a powerful message to the BJP and RSS cadre across the Union Territory. It would demonstrate the leadership’s commitment to reward ideological loyalty, grassroots commitment, and political maturity. This would also be in line with the RSS-BJP vision of a politically integrated and development-oriented Jammu and Kashmir. His experience in working with diverse political stakeholders from the Valley without compromising on the core nationalist agenda could help the Centre’s outreach initiatives appear more credible and balanced.
According to sources, another reason Singh’s name is being discussed with seriousness is his deep understanding of the geopolitical contours of Kashmir. This includes not only the internal dynamics between Jammu and the Valley but also the external dimensions involving cross-border hostilities, radicalization challenges and rehabilitation of displaced population in their homes and hearths.
Nirmal Singh’s possible election to the Rajya Sabha could galvanize the BJP cadre and Swayamsevaks in Jammu and Kashmir. and experience to the national stage in deliberations concerning Jammu and Kashmir. It would mean addressing the aspirations of the people of Jammu in general and the RSS cadre in particular as Nirmal Singh could emerge as a steady voice that aligns with BJP’s ideological goals.
While Kavinder Gupta’s appointment as LG Ladakh may be the opening move in a more nuanced political chess game being played out by the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir, Nirmal Singh’s likely candidature for the Rajya Sabha would reinforce the party’s loyalty-based reward mechanism. It would underscore the message that the highest leadership of BJP – guided by the principles of “Nation First” – is keen to blend ideology with matured political competence in its continued engagement with the sensitive and significant region of Jammu and Kashmir.
