Jammu:Prof. Bhim Singh while addressing a press conference today, urged the President of India in his letter to withdraw LG’s order of 27th December, 2019 and restore statehood of J&K.
The letter said, “I am taking this liberty requesting the Hon’ble President of India to kindly intervene urgently to save the constitutional status, history and cultural-political identity of Jammu and Kashmir in the interest of National Integration. The first historic and political blunder committed was that status of Jammu & Kashmir was demolished which reduced the 200 years old State into a Union Territory without any justification.
1. I would like the Hon’ble President to kindly understand the constitutional blunders, historical and political mistakes which are being committed vis-à-vis erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir by the present administration which is being governed under the President’s Rule. The Government in Jammu and Kashmir headed by Lt. Governor has committed constitutional blunder in Jammu and Kashmir declaring October 26 as holiday in reference of the Accession Day which was signed by Maharaja Hari Singh on October 26, 1947, but, accepted by the Governor-General of India, Lord Mountbatten on October 27, 1947. The Lt. Governor without constitutional power has declared October 26 as a holiday treating October 26 as an Accession Day. It is a grave blunder because the Instrument of Accession by the Maharaja was signed on October 26, 1947 by the Competent Authority, the Governor-General of India. It was October 27 when the Accession signed by the Maharaja was accepted/approved by the Governor-General. Naturally, in accordance to the International Law and the history, October 27 should have been declared as a holiday because this day Governor-General of India representing the British Government accepted/singed the Accession according to the law made by the Act of British Parliament. These facts and the constitutional history cannot be changed/reversed by an Lt. Governor who is acting as a representative of the President of India without any legislative authority. It is, therefore, urged that the President of India may intervene without delay to save the history and constitutional facts relating to the Accession of Jammu and Kashmir.
2. This is also shocking that a representative (Lt. Governor) of the President having no legislative power/authority to change the history or facts of J&K has done committed blunder by deleting a holiday on the birthday of Sheikh Mohd. Abdullah on December 5. Sheikh Abdullah was a secular/nationalist leader of Kashmir, the first Prime Minister of J&K who raised tricolour flag in 1946 and he with his supporters did not allow Mohd.Ali Jinnah to speak in the Lal Chowk, Kashmir against India and for Pakistan. He led the movement in Kashmir in support of India and opposed Pakistan those days. It was Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir which had declared December 5 as a holiday in honour of a nationalist/secular leader of Kashmir. This was a decision of the people of Jammu and Kashmir through their Assembly which could not have been changed. This amounts to a grave blunder and needs to be corrected by the Hon’ble President.
3. Similarly, people of Kashmir, mostly Muslim fraternity had been observing July 13 every year as Martyrs’ Day in honour of nearly 22 civilians who were killed in police firing in 1931. This was the honour bestowed by the government and even Maharaja Hari Singh allowed July 13 to be observed as Martyrs’ Day. Changing/reversing July 13 from its traditional Martyrs’ Day has not/shall not please any citizen of India residing in Jammu and Kashmir. This has hurt sentiments of Kashmiris.
4. The Lt. Governor of J&K has not given any respect to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir particularly the Dogra fraternity by rejecting popular demand from all sections of the people of J&K to declare birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh as holiday on September 23. People of J&K stand for holiday on the birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh. It was great Dogra Maharaja Hari Singh who declared in a Round Table Conference, held in London in 1931 that “I am an Indian first and then a Maharaja” he dare announced in the presence of dozen of State Rulers from India in a conference presided of the Queen of England. Both, Maharaja Hari Singh and Sheikh Mohd. Abdullah had played nationalist and secular role during 1946 and 1947. Promoting Accession of J&K with the Union of the India.
Your Excellency, I have written this letter what a common resident of Jammu and Kashmir is thinking today. This is very urgent that the declaration announced by the Lt. Governor of J&K under President’s Rule should be withdrawn forthwith. This should be left on the next Legislative Assembly of J&K to do what. Let the people of Jammu and Kashmir feel proud as Indians and let President of India act in accordance to the spirit of the Constitution of India. Let President of India convene a meeting of representatives of all recognized political parties and take the citizens of India in J&K in confidence. Restoration of statehood of Jammu & Kashmir is essential for promoting emotional integration”.