People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti asserted on Monday that the rights historically granted to Jammu and Kashmir upon its accession to India were currently being violated. Speaking at an event in Srinagar during the observance of Accession Day, which commemorates the signing of the Instrument of Accession by Maharaja Hari Singh on October 26, 1947, Mufti stated that the region had joined India with open hearts based on specific assurances. These assurances, she explained, were intended to safeguard the region’s distinct identity and cultural character, not to foster rebellion. She specifically referenced Articles 370 and 35A as key conditions of the accession, aimed at preserving the identity of Jammu and Kashmir as a Muslim-majority state while respecting its diverse communities, including Buddhist, Dogra, Pahari, Kashmiri, and Pandit populations.
Mufti invoked the vision of Jawaharlal Nehru, who had envisioned Jammu and Kashmir as a ‘show window’ for the world, emphasizing that the people of the region had entered into an agreement with India in good faith. She appealed to the nation to remember the India they had joined – an India of Gandhi, Nehru, and Ambedkar – an India that had bestowed these rights, which she contended are now being disregarded. She stressed that the accession was not merely a piece of paper but represented a foundational trust. Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that Mufti also characterized Jammu and Kashmir as one of the most militarized regions globally. She alleged that individuals who had previously been militants but had since integrated into civilian life and raised families were still being subjected to summons by police stations. She lamented that after 80 years, Jammu and Kashmir remained in a state of distress, with its people in a similar predicament to that of 1947, even after acceding to India. Mufti pointed out that restrictions and arrests in Jammu and Kashmir had become normalized since 2019, citing a detention of 7,000 people on October 10 as an example of the ongoing situation since 2019, which she described as a new normal for the region.
The PDP chief suggested that the developments in Jammu and Kashmir should serve as a cautionary tale for the rest of India, implying that the ruling BJP should reflect on the situation. She urged the government to initiate a dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that the region could not be held together through force. Instead, she advocated for a collaborative approach, stating, “If you want to keep Jammu and Kashmir together, don’t drag it. Don’t drag it with your arms. Instead, hold its hand and teach it to walk with you.” Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Jammu and Kashmir unit celebrated Accession Day, terming the signing of the Instrument of Accession by Maharaja Hari Singh as a “historic” decision. In a statement, the BJP expressed its “profound gratitude to (erstwhile) Maharaja Hari Singh for taking the historic decision to accede Jammu & Kashmir to the Dominion of India at a critical juncture in the history of the subcontinent.” The party’s stance underscores a differing perspective on the significance and implications of the accession, highlighting the ongoing political discourse surrounding the region’s relationship with the Indian Union.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.