JK News Today Commentary
Today- October 27- is a test of history for the political parties in Jammu and Kashmir . The fundamental question is how they have listed this day in their calendar . This was the day in 1947 when Kashmir was saved by Indian army from Pakistani invaders, raiders, looters and rapists .
A question that should be asked and analyzed had there been no October 26 and 27, how would Kashmir have looked today ? The political parties in Kashmir trying to deflect attention from the origin of the current state of J&K owe it to the Indian army the way they are progressing , and see what all is happening on the other side – illegally occupied territories – Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit – Baltistan where people have risen in revolt against Pakistani establishment . They are angry, frustrated because their rights have been trampled and pushed to ever-deepening deprivation .
It now falls on the shoulders of political groups of Kashmir to showcase the contrasts . For one, they should look at the realities as they are as that is both in their interest as also in the national interest . They should not see their political interests over and above the national interest , especially today when they know what all is happening on the other side – PoJK , and how Pakistan has unleashed brutalities on the people. Pakistan’s false narrative of “ Azad Kashmir” has been fully exposed.
While the entire Indian nation salutes the valour of the Indian army and the way it saved Kashmir from Pakistan army abetted raiders , -Kashmir’s political groups have planned no celebrations and ceremonies to mark this day , to which they owe their existence till this day and in future. This is the reality which they cannot overlook just because they have other narratives to camouflage the reality of Kashmir.
The Indian army landed in Srinagar on October 27, 1947 , a day after Maharaja Hari Singh of the then princely state of Jammu and Kashmir signed instrument of accession , which made the state an integral part of India. That is historical reality . Another reality is that Pakistan , in a bid to thwart the will of the people launched an all-out assault on the land to grab the territory and its resources . The real intent was hidden by using the card of the religion and tapping the idea of the Muslim-majority character of the state , in line with their self-propounded two-nation theory .
The history is replete with the references that Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah , the leading light and towering leader of Kashmir of the era had rejected Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s proposal to join theocratic state of Pakistan . He also led the campaign after Pakistani raiders started approaching Srinagar : “ Hamalwar Hoshiar, Hum Kashmiiri hai Tayar” ( Pakistani raiders we warned , we, Kashmiris are ready to confront you in all forma and manifestations.”
Alongside Kashmiri streets reverberated with the full-throated slogans , “ Sher-e- Kashmir ka kya Irshad, Hindu, Muslim , Sikh Iteehad,” ( What is call of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah , Hindu, Muslim , Sikh unity.” These two slogans were a message of complete and absolute rejection of Pakistan and its two-nation theory.
These slogans were a clear acceptance of the accession .The Maharaja had rejected Pakistan’s intimidation and showed zero-tolerance to Pakistan’s first act of terrorism on the soil of Jammu and Kashmir . It was against this backdrop that he sought safety and protection of his people in India – the country that believed and practiced communal harmony. All religions and ethnicities had equal space to live and operate to fulfil their dreams.
. This development also came after the Indian army landed in Kashmir on a mission to save Kashmir that had become part of India without any ifs and busts on its legality . Pakistan attempted to disrupt this reality through its proxy war . But again the Government of India and the Indian army foiled Pakistan’s designs .
It is important for the political class in Kashmir to celebrate the day this year because Pakistan sent a chilling reminder through what it did in Pahlagam on April 22 that it has not given up its designs to bleed Kashmir . This is the same attempt by Pakistan that it made in 1947. Kashmir leadership should rise to rebuff Pakistan yet again in more forceful manner than ever before.
