Balwant Singh Mankotia


Balwant Singh Mankotia is an Indian politician and the former President of the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party. He has been three times elected member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, holding office for over 12 years. He is a leading campaigner for secular values against the terrorist insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir. On 29 September 2022, he joined Bhartiya Janata Party. He won the 2024 elections from Chenani Assembly constituency, a seat previously held by his uncle Bhim Singh, and defeating his cousin Harsh Dev Singh by a margin 15,611 votes.

Early life

His parents are sh. Mast ram Mankotia and Surju Devi. His father, Sh. Mast Ram Mankotia was an Indian military commander in Operation Polo 1948, that ousted Nizam Osman Ali Khan and led to the annexation of Hyderabad to India.
He graduated with a BSc from Jammu University in 1992.

Career

Member of government, 2002

He won his first election in 2002 from Udhampur, and was a part of the coalition government in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, with the PDP and Congress Party.
In 2002, Balwant Singh was the first MLA to give oath in the Dogri language in the name of Vaishno Devi, a trend that was adopted by other Hindu MLAs in Jammu and Kashmir.

Protest leader in opposition, 2008

After he retained his seat in the [2008 Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|2008 Jammu and Kashmir general elections], Balwant was a vocal member of the opposition, and campaigned to end illiteracy in the state.
Balwant Singh led several protests in the assembly house against Pakistan, then chief minister Omar Abdullah and demanded that the word secular be inserted into the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, to match the Constitution of India.
His protests in the assembly house included leading walkouts and throwing a microphone while standing on tables in the assembly house.

President of Panthers Party & OIC-UN issue, 2010

In 2010, Balwant Singh became the President of the Panthers Party, and led a large demonstration in front of the UN peacekeeping force base in Jammu. While burning an effigy of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Balwant demanded that the United Nations secretary-general terminate recognition of the OIC, from the UN's list of recognised groups. He alleged that the OIC, akin to Pakistan's ISI, was supporting terrorist groups in Jammu and Kashmir.

Protests as Opposition in Legislative Assembly, 2014

On 24 August 2014 Speaker of the House, Mubarak Gul ordered security guards to forcibly evict Balwant Singh from the assembly when he disturbed proceedings against a bill by Omar Abdullah that had urged India to resume dialogue with Pakistan, instead Balwant wearing a black bandana hawkishly demanded that the assembly condemn ceasefire violations by Pakistan, claiming they were leading to deaths of innocent villagers. He was then forcefully ejected from the legislative assembly by the security marshals and suspended. After disturbing the proceeding he demanded on television that Speaker Mubarak Gal, have the assembly unanimously adopt a resolution against Pakistan, for its ceasefire violations in the Kashmir conflict.

Jammu and Kashmir floods, 2014

He campaigned for the October 2014 Jammu and Kashmir floods, to be escalated to status of National Emergency in India to ensure that the effected residents would be compensated.

House Arrest, 2019

Following Revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019, Balwant Singh Mankotia was put under house arrest for over two months.

Personal life

His uncle Bhim Singh, was founder of the Panthers Party and his cousin Harsh Dev Singh is its chairman. His cousin Ankit Love is the leader of the One Love Party in Great Britain.