ABROGATE ARTICLE 370
Madhopur is a small town some 12 kilometres away from the army cantonment of Pathankot. Last week, this town witnessed history being made.
A one-lakh strong gathering of people drawn from Punjab, Jammu- Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh congregated here to pay homage to the memory of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerji whose magnificent statue was installed here to commemorate his launching of a campaign way back in 1953 for the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir state with India.
The place where the Memorial stands has been named Ekta Sthal. The larger than life-size statue has been carved by famous sculptor Ram Sutar. The decision to construct the Memorial was taken by Sardar Prakash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab. The unveiling of the statue was done by Shri Mohan Rao Bhagwat, R.S.S. Chief. As Shri Badal himself was unwell, Deputy C.M. Sardar Sukhbir Singh Badal presided over the grand function, which was attended by BJP President, Shri Nitin Gadkari and many other leaders of our party.
Dr. S.P. Mookerji was a life-long critic of the Congress Party. But, like Dr. Ambedkar, who too was a strong Congress critic, he had been inducted into the first Union Cabinet by Pandit Nehru, on the advice of Mahatma Gandhi. After the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1950, Dr. Mookerji resigned from the government expressing sharp differences with Pandit Nehru over his handling of Kashmir, as also of Pakistan, particularly with reference to East Bengal.
In 1953, the first National Conference of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (a party formed by Dr. Mookerji) was held at Kanpur. It was here that Dr. Mookerji gave a call for KashmirтАЩs full integration with India.
J&K State had acceded to India. But the Constitution of India as framed had incorporated Article 370 into it, as a consequence of which the State had a separate Constitution, a separate Head of State and a separate Flag. Its head of Government, then Sheikh Abdullah, was designated Prime Minister. Even the Supreme Court, the Election Commission, and the Comptroller and Auditor General had no jurisdiction over the State. Besides, any Indian citizen wanting to visit J&K State was allowed entry only if he had a permit. Dr. Mookerji made defiance of this embargo as the symbol of his challenge to Article 370 and the StateтАЩs separatist provisions.
Accompanied by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Dr. Mookerji had toured various parts of the country and then come to Madhopur, went across the Ravi Bridge connecting Madhopur to J&K State. Midway over the bridge, Dr. Mookerji was accosted by the J&K police and asked if he was carrying a permit. Dr. Mookerji told the authorities that he believed that as an Indian citizen тАУ besides being a Member of Parliament - he had a right to go to any part of India. When the police said that if he proceeded without a permit they would arrest him, Dr. Mookerji told Atal ji to go back and tell the country that Dr. Mookerji had entered J&K State without a permit, though as a prisoner !
The news electrified the whole country. Tens of thousands of Jana Sangh workers began pouring in from all parts of India, all headed for Madhopur and for Kashmir jails. Free IndiaтАЩs first national movement for national integrity had been formally launched with Dr. Mookerji leading from the front.
The campaign lasted nearly two months, but it had a tragic denouement! On the night of June 23, 1953 the whole country was shocked to learn that Dr. Mookerji had taken ill while in detention, and that after a couple of days in bed, had suddenly passed away, and that his dead body was being sent to Calcutta!
The nation felt outraged at the news of Dr. MookerjiтАЩs martyrdom. Dr. B.C. Roy, Congress Chief Minister of West Bengal, and Dr. MookerjiтАЩs mother wrote very agitatedly to Prime Minister Pandit Nehru urging a thorough enquiry into the tragedy. GovernmentтАЩs adamant refusal to order an enquiry invested a shroud of mystery to the sad episode.
The anger in the people had some immediate consequences. The permit system was promptly abolished. By August 1953, the Government in Jammu and Kashmir was changed! Sheikh Abdullah was dismissed and replaced by his Deputy Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad, who was sworn in on August 9.
In the following months, one after the other, several other separatist provisions, such as those relating to the National Tri-colour, to the office of President, to the Supreme Court, to the Election Commission and to the designation of Prime Minister - all were changed and J&K brought at par with other States in these matters.
When in the name of KashmirтАЩs autonomy, it is said nowadays that the dilution of Article 370 that has taken place post-1953 must be undone, it is all these wholesome provisions of the Indian Constitution which are sought to be once again scrapped, in their application to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
The massive rally at Madhopur on March 20 is the nationтАЩs clarion call to the powers-that-be that India will never forget Dr. Syama PrasadтАЩs sacrifice, and will not allow the constitutional clock to be turned back in respect of the StateтАЩs integration with India. Indeed, all that the country wants to achieve now is to move forward to the complete abrogation of Article 370!
L.K. Advani
New Delhi
21st March, 2010
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March 22nd, 2010 at 1:21 pm
@advaniji… on this issue I will really blame BJP for its failure to present itself in a more articulate manner(as done now) in front of the nation..this issue has been dubbed as one having a communal agenda, whereas its one issue which is prima facie for the unity of India.
Rather than any rehtoric/emotional appeal, cool reasoning, repeated use of words like “unity of india” nowdays appeal more to mostly thoughtless urban population.. I thought that there was a recent opportunity in the form of shiv sena agitation on mumbai when congress was claiming that all Indians have equal right over each part of india - BJP could have asked why they dont think the SAME ABOUT KASHMIR - is it not a part of India ?
I can bet most of the young non-political youths even do not know that they cannot buy property in Kashmir. I think the BJP should expose the hypocracy of congress and take it to task for having double standards on Kashmir vis-a-vis Mumbai.
March 22nd, 2010 at 1:31 pm
@dear advaniji… please ask your spokesperson to link this issue with shiv sena/MNS agitation on Mumbai saying its only BJP which truly believes that on each and every part of India, all Indians have equal right -from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
Its the congress that gives opening to people like shiv sena/ MNS for givng a special status to Mumbai by allowing them to give reference to existing provisions in Kashmir.
It is important to make youth aware that article 370 has the divisive agenda, who might otherwise be thinking about the unifying agenda of congress party in absence of their complete knowledge on this issue.
March 23rd, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Advani ji,
If BJP comes to power again, please ensure that there will be the Right of work in J&K though property rights can be restricted to a certain limit. More so, we should have free Education to all Indians upto specialisation. Compulsory Faimly Planning for all - including Muslims. Also, Dowry demand, Adulteration and Narcotics should be made a Crime with life imprisionment.
INDIA SHOULD BE FOR INDIANS ONLY AND NOT FOR THOSE WHO LIVE HERE BUT OWE ALLEGIANCE TO OUR ENEMIES.
March 23rd, 2010 at 5:32 pm
If we are again In Power, we should execute the penality of death Sentence for terrorists. We must abolish article 370 from constitution. We should give no subsidy to haz Pligrims. We should protect minorities but should not appease them by giving them permission to offer nawaz in open field etc.
Also, there should be help for cultivation of fields to farmers, no electricity charges should be levied on them and free of cost seeds distribution should take place. Free/ subsidized transportation should be provided to farmer for selling their produce in the Market.
March 23rd, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Dear Advani ji,
On Kashmir and its integration with India, You and Vajpayee ji have made dominating speeches on appropriate occasions in the Parilament of India. Like you, Kashmir is dear to entire Nation. Our Country mandated BJP to rule as lead Partner of NDA from 1996-97 to June 2004. We all would have appreciated had BJP developed a Political consensus on abrogation of Article 370 under its said rule . Congress can have it as a poser to BJP.
Regards,
C.A.Shiban Dudha
March 24th, 2010 at 8:37 am
It is really pleasing to note that one lac people gathered at the unveiling ceremony of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukerjee’s statue near Pathankot. Dr. Mukerjee gave his life to the cause of unity of Indian Nation and died waging a war against Article 370 after facing inhuman behaviour of Sheikh Abdullah’s government.
Hailing Dr. Mukerjee’s contribution is good but it would only be fair if today’s B.J.P. comes clear to tell Indians - what change did it see in the approach of the communal National Conference on the primary issue of Article 370 that prompted it to induct Omar Abdullah in the N.D.A. Government ? B.J.P. must apologize and admit that joining hands with National Conference was wrong. This would be a true tribute to Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukerjee.
March 25th, 2010 at 5:11 pm
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March 27th, 2010 at 1:17 am
@advaniji…I feel sorry to see in this country, media has already sold its soul…we see hypocracy of media defending SRK for his freedom of expression on Pakistan players but attacking Amitabh for his support to an Indian state..in your case, media bias is more than evident..time has come to seriously do something about it.
March 30th, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Sir, you have wonderfully narrated. First time I came to know about the history behind dilution of Art 370.
You are right that it should not be allowed to return back to pre 1953 special status. But abrogation of Art 370 is not advisable in my view because it may create suspicion in the minds of our fellow Indians in J&K.
April 4th, 2010 at 9:39 am
Article 370 is a manifestation of Communal Mindset of Congress. Congress has always made Muslims feel alienated from this country and made them believe that they are allowed to carry out religious extremism, cheat the country and show loyality to Pakistan and Congress would just love it and do nothing about it !.
Instead of working on the basic upliftment of Muslim society, Congress has given them toys of extremism to play with and thats why Muslims are one of the most backward communities in past 60 years.
April 29th, 2010 at 7:50 am
I am a staunch supporter of BJP. Don’t let the Congress-Mullah rule the Country. Under Congress, the Islamization of India is going on slowly. Please stop immigration from Bangladesh. Hang terrorists like Afzal Garu. Don’t become corrupt like all other political parties. Strong ideology and hard work is all you need to succeed in India. Media is biased. If possible start your own newspaper which will truly represent facts.
May 29th, 2010 at 9:12 am
Advani ji,
Leaders like Shyamaprasad ji’s contribution to the country has not been properly depicted and reached the masses. Naming an airport and university in his name will be a right step…a fitting tribute. Since BJP is in power in states like Karnataka, Himachap Pradesh, Gujarat….we can do it. Also we can avoid giving Congress a chance to name all airports, universities and everything under one family’s name.