Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 27: 71st Anniversary of J&K Accession Day was held here today at Dogra Sadar Sabha under the chairmanship of Opinder Nath Khajuria, former General Manager of J&K Bank and pioneer student leader of SPM Rajput College of Commerce, Jammu.
Prof Bhim Singh, National Coordinator, J&K Accession Day Celebration Committee demanded total merger of J&K State into Union Republic by erasing Article 370 and 35 A, for complete merger, denial of which has denied Fundamental Rights to State Subjects of J&K, who are citizens of Indian Republic.
Bhim Singh urged the Indian Parliament to resolve to have One Flag, One Constitution in the country right from Kanyakumari to Kashmir Himalayas so that citizens of the state. He said separate Constitution and separate state to J&K has not benefitted any individual in the State but helped successive rulers to rule like dictators with the result masses of Kashmir feel alienated and have been distanced from the Centre right from 1950 to this date, when all other 562 states of pre-independence were merged in the Union Republic of India.
Singh warned the Parliament of India of serious consequences unless J&K is completely integrated with the Union of India as per the Instrument of Accession signed by Maharaja Hari Singh and accepted by Lord Mountbatten the then Governor General of India on October 27, 1947 so that people of J&K shall also share all Fundamental Rights.
Speaking on the occasion, Khajuria hailed the achievements of Prof Bhim Singh to project basic political, economic and developmental problems of Jammu Pradesh due to discriminatory Governance of Kashmir Centric politicians. He appealed to all to unite irrespective of religion, caste or creed to fight for Fundamental Rights of Jammu masses.
Harsh Dev Singh, Chairman of JKNPP lambasted the State and Central political functionaries for total step motherly treatment with people of Jammu. He urged upon the people of Jammu Pradesh to arise unitedly like rock against discrimination with Muslims, Gujjars, Hindus, SCs, STs and others in every respect.
Prominent among others who spoke on the occasion included Balwant Singh Mankotia, NPP president, Th Gulchain Singh Charak, president of Dogra Sadar Sabha and former Minister, KK Khosa, president Kashmiri Pandit Sabha, PK Ganju, NPP vice president, NPP leaders Bansi Lal Sharma and Anita Thakur, Adv Hari Chand Jalmeria, Uday Chand, president Dogri Manch, Faqir Nath, Mohd Rafiq Shah, Yashpaul Kundal, former legislators, Brig Rajan Jamwal (Rtd.), Mushtaq Ahmed and Ashfaq Rana.
All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS) and Jammu Kashmiri Vichar Manch (JKVM) celebrated the Accession Day (Vilay Divas) in National Capital Region of Delhi (NCR).
The function was held in Rajinder Bhawan, New Delhi. Special highlights of the programe were a photo exhibition and felicitation of outstanding community sports persons. The sportsmen of exceptional achievements at National and International level honoured were; Anita Raina (Tennis), Kuldeep Handoo (Wushu), Siddarth Koul and Uday Koul (Cricket) and Pranav Dhar (Marshal Arts).
In reverence to their work, the speakers on the occasion, in the symposium, Dr Subramaniam Swami, Member Rajya Sabha, Balbir Punj former Member Rajya Sabha and a well known columnist and Lt Gen PS Mehta (Retd.) were felicitated. Others on the podium were Col Tej Tikoo (Retd) president, AIKS and Sanjay Ganjoo, president JKVM.
Subramanian Swamy in his address said, “Kashmir is the identity of India and we cannot let our identity go” added, “Nehru dynasty ruled India for 48 years. Have patience; give BJP another term to resolve Kashmir.”
Swamy, further said, “Article 370 can be removed by enacting legislation in parliament.” He further said Article 370 can go, just by giving notification to the President of India but cautioned of the consequences if it is not well orchestrated. In strong words he said, “come what may, India will never leave Kashmir since the instrument of accession was signed by Maharaja Hari Singh with Indian Government was full and final.”
Balbir Punj congratulated Kashmiri pandits for keeping their hopes and passion alive even though they lost their homes and hearths. He reminded Kashmiri people who had gathered in hundreds to celebrate this auspicious day that they have similarities to Jews because both were victimized. He told audience that Jews were spread everywhere across globe but they never gave up their claim and longing for Jerusalem the Holy land. He remembered Brig Rajinder Singh who was martyred at Uri, while keeping his promise of fighting to last man and last bullet against Pak raiders but doesn’t have a single statue in Srinagar.
Lt Gen PS Mehta (Retd), son of the soil spoke said Kashmiri Muslims are a smart community; there is no dearth of money or resources in the Valley. He questioned the political will of the Government to stop the menace of terrorism. He asked Kashmiri Pandit youths to get aggressive and make noise till they are heard. He further said, “If Punjab insurgency could be contained, why could not we resolve Kashmir problem for last seventy years.”
He said it is extremely sad that Kashmir issue was not addressed in 1971 when 93000 Pak Army personnel surrendered before Indian Army.
Meanwhile, Lok Vikas Dal led by its president Vikram Singh Slathia also celebrated Accession Day at Slathia Chowk Udhampur today. On this occasion newly elected Councillor, Vikram Slathia addressed the gathering and narrated the significance of this day in the Indian and then State history. He demanded that there should be state Holiday on October 27. Tributes were paid to Maharaja Hari Singh and Indian soldiers who saved J&K from Pakistan aggression.
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