Sheikh and separate legislature
Sir,
This has reference to Mr.
D C Sharma's article "Is trifurcation of State
communal" which appeared in DE on 5.12.2000. In the
article he says, "J&K was created on the behest
of East India Company to contain Sikhs even after the
1846 Ist Anglo Sikh War."
However, I would like to
say that Jammu Province including the areas of Poonch,
Rajouri and Mirpur now in Pakistan but euphemistically
called 'Azad Kashmir' and Ladakh were united by the Dogra
brothers led by Gulab Singh who was made Raja of Jammu in
1822 by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab. Whole of Doda
and Ladakh were won by General Zorawar Singh Kalhuria by
Kharak Singh, Maharaja's son, had written in 1836 to the
British Political Agent in Ludhiana: ".......The
Dogras (have) great power and the means..... by
fortifying themselves in all their hill possessions and
extending their authority around and beyond
Kashmir..." T.H. Maddock, Secretary to the
Government of India wrote on March 21, 1842: "The
defence of Ladakh by the Jammu Rajas against any attempt
of the Chinese or Tibetan authorities to wrest it from
their hands must be regarded by the British Government
as...legitimate and one to which this Government would
wish every success...".
That Sheikh Abdullah
"wanted to become independent ruler of the
state" of Jammu and Kashmri is not borne out by
facts. Had it been so then his prosecution would have
been completed leading to conviction. Because allegations
against him were wrong that is why he had to be released
and later involved in Indian foreign diplomacy and then
made Chief Minister of J&K by the Congress I's
legislature party under directions of Indira Gandhi.
If I may add, the 1952
speech of the Sheikh when he said, "if Jammu and
Ladakh so desire, they can decide to integrate with India
and leave Valley free to have a limited accession"
was well considered intention on his part and is
corroborated by many living senior Dogras one of whom is
Mr. Baldev Prasad Sharma then Principal Information
Officer to the Sheikh. It was bitterly opposed by Pt Prem
Nath Dogra and the Praja Parishad Party of Jammu on the
fear that the Sheikh will be able to carve out an
independent kingdon.
This reflected fear
psychosis on Praja Parishad's part but it resulted in
gross injustice to Jammu during the last fifty years
which is a separate issue needing separate write up.
Those who oppose separate legislature for Jammu have
selfish ends to grind because so far never any congent
reasoning has been given against this genuine demands of
the Jammuites.
BJP's J&K President
Mr. Daya Krishen Kotwal is on record to oppose separate
legislature for Jammu on the grounds that they do not
want Kashmir to be dismembered. What a piece of knowledge
for a president of a party claiming to give leadership of
Jammu and the nation. Even a student of middle class
knows that Jammu is not included in Kashmir. BJP leaders
are not even clear about their idea of Regional Councils
unless they are sure about their ever lasting friendship
with Dr. Farooq Abdullah. Regional Council will work at
the mercy of the Chief Minister who will always be from
Kashmir. Remember BJP stalwart Mr. Chaman Lal Gupta, a
couple of years back, leading a procession of about fifty
persons demanding Regional Council for Jammu. It was a
poor show against the successful Bandh on 6th November,
2000 in favour for a separate legislature for Jammu
without BJP's support.
Yours etc..
Sunder Sharma, Jammu.
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