Chaudhary Lal Singh

Chaudhary Lal Singh
Chaudhary Lal Singh speaking at a program at Billawar, Kathua
Minister for Forest, Environment, Ecology
Government of Jammu and Kashmir [1]
In office
1 March 2015 – 14 April 2018
Chief MinisterMufti Mohammed Sayeed
Preceded byPresident's Rule
Succeeded byGovernor's Rule
ConstituencyBasohli
Member of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly[2]
In office
2014 – 2018
Preceded byJagdish Raj Sapolia
Succeeded byDarshan Kumar
ConstituencyBasohli
Personal details
NationalityIndian
Political partyIndian National Congress (Since 2024) (before 2014)
Other political
affiliations		Dogra Swabhimaan Sangathan Party (DSSP) (2019-2024)[3] Bhartiya Janata Party (2014-2019)
SpouseKanta Andotra
Residence(s)2, Police Lines Road, Down Town, Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir
Websitewww.facebook.com/thechlalsingh

Chaudhary Lal Singh (born 2 February 1959) is an Indian politician from Jammu and Kashmir. He was Minister for Forest, Environment, Ecology of J&K in PDP-BJP coalition government in J&K.[4] He represented the Basohli in Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.

He was Founder Chairman and his wife Smt. Kanta Andotra (Ex.MLA) is President of the Dogra Swabhimaan Sangathan Party.

Political career

Singh started his political career as a student leader. He was elected as MLA from Basholi constituency in 1996 J&K Assembly elections. He was re-elected as MLA from Basohli constituency in the 2002 J&K Assembly Elections. He was inducted into the state cabinet as Minister for Health and Medical Education in Congress-PDP coalition government. After that he was elected as MP in 14th Lok Sabha in 2004 from Udhampur constituency. He was again elected as MP from there in the 15th Lok Sabha in 2009.[5]

Change in political affiliation

In August 2014, Singh parted ways with Congress after being denied ticket as Congress candidate during 16th Lok Sabha elections. He formally joined Bhartiya Janata Party in presence of BJP President Amit Shah at a function in Kathua.[6] He resigned as cabinet minister in 2018 and left BJP. Later, formed his own party "Dogra Swabhimaan Sangathan Party".[7]

On 20 March 2024, he joined Indian National Congress.

CBI probe against Chaudhary Lal Singh

CBI initiates probe into education trust run by former J&K Minister Chaudhary Lal Singh.[8] HC stays re-investigation of this case.[9]

Controversy

In 2018 he was accused of supporting of the accused rapists in the Kathua Rape and Murder case.[10] Singh defended his attendance at the rally, stating that he was there to "defuse the situation". Nonetheless, Singh resigned as a result of the controversy.[11] He stood by his demand of CBI enquiry for justice to the victim and held large rallies for this demand.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Council of Ministers : J&K Govt."
  2. ^ "Basohli- J&K Assembly Election 2014"
  3. ^ "Dogra Swabhimaan Sangathan Party"
  4. ^ "BJP minister in Jammu and Kashmir 'fixes' woman doctor's collar, image goes viral".
  5. ^ "Chaudhary Lal Singh :: Personality of Jammu province" Archived 22 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Former Congress MP Lal Singh joins BJP" Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Iyer, Aishwarya S. (22 January 2019). "Exclusive: Lal Singh Floats Outfit, Will Fight BJP in Jammu Polls". TheQuint. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  8. ^ "CBI initiates probe into education trust run by former J&K Minister Chaudhary Lal Singh". The Economic Times. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  9. ^ Excelsior, Daily (21 April 2023). "HC stays re-investigation of case against Lal Singh's wife". Jammu Kashmir Latest News | Tourism | Breaking News J&K. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Fresh trouble for Chaudhary Lal Singh: Former J&K forest minister accused of bending rules to supply cutch wood to factories - Firstpost". www.firstpost.com. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Kathua rape case: BJP leader Choudhary Lal Singh defends participation in rally, says it was to restore normalcy in state". Firstpost.
  12. ^ "कठुआ कांड की CBI जांच के लिए चौधरी लाल सिंह 20 मई को फिर करेंगे रैली, मचा बवाल". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 28 April 2023.