Jammu & Kashmir Accession to India on 26 October,1947
Houses of Parliament – Indo- European Kashmir Forum (IEKF) Event on Jammu and Kashmir – 25 October 2017
BY Satya Minhas
(MA Economics, Chartered Fellow Internal Auditor (England & Wales), Certified Internal Auditor (USA) ,Chairperson, Metropolitan Police Hindu Association, London (2017/19)
In Houses of Parliament Committee Room 10, there was an environment full of emotion, passion and hope on 25 October 2017 when the Indo-European Kashmir Forum (IEKF) Commemorated the 70 years of Signing of the Jammu and Kashmir Instrument of Accession to India. RH Marcus Jones, MP for Nuneaton and Minister in the Central Government hosted the event.
Krishna Bhan, the President of the IEKF welcomed the guests and the main speakers for the event.
Mr. Marcus Jones MP said that there are real challenges in dealing with this issue which needed better coverage and expressed his hope for a peaceful and speedy solution.
Baroness Emma Nicholson in her address informed about history of Jammu and Kashmir and her 2007 report which was adopted by the European Union. She said that there were some grounds for optimism and light of hope through unification, harmony, trade and prosperity.
RH Bob Blackman MP said that he had recently visited Jammu and Kashmir, met the Maharaja and his son and got to see the first-hand experience of the beautiful State. People of all faiths came to see Bob and they pleaded for peace and prosperity. He also met some of the refugees forced out of the state and told him the stories of genocide which took place 27-29 years ago. We must prosecute and punish the killers. He reaffirmed that the whole of J&K is the integral part of the sovereign India and most of the population of the State are happy to be in India. We must not lose the rich heritage, culture and beauty of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan army and terrorists should vacate the Pakistan occupied Kashmir. There was an urgent need for addressing the propaganda and misinformation being spread by Pakistan and extremist elements. He is in the process of launching an APPG for Jammu and Kashmir to address these issues and achieve the just outcome in favour of India. He also saluted the Dogra Rajputs for their services and sacrifices in the war and protecting the State.
Dr Gautam Sen in his address provided detailed information on the Instrument of Accession signed on 26 October 1947 between the Maharaja (King) of Jammu and Kashmir Hari Singh and the Government of India, its legality, and the UNO Resolutions that followed. He also put further light on the Article 370 in the Indian Constitution which was supposed to be a temporary measure. He went through the history and the way forward touching on the salient areas, for example, fate of J&K Hindus (Pandits), Indian Nuclear doctrine on first strike, Unification of Kashmir, and Right to Vote through self-declaration.
Dr Girdari Bhan mentioned the Pakistan invasion of Jammu and Kashmir and the wars that followed, Fate of Baluchistan, Madrassas, brain washing innocent people, extremism and terrorism, Muslims rejecting secularism wherever they are in majority- massacre of non-Muslims or converted them by force, Hindu population in Pakistan has been cut down from 30% to mere 2% today, 35% ethnic minority population wiped out from Pakistan occupied Kashmir, China has taken around 17% of J&K land during 1962 invasion, Pakistan illegally gifting 8,150 km of Kashmir land to China, and that Jammu and Kashmir is not a Muslim state by any account. The pre-conditions to plebiscite stipulated by the UN were not met by Pakistan which has brought about major changes that are illegal. For that reason, and the fact that the state is multi-ethnic and multi-religious, with people holding diverse political aspirations, means that self-determination, not only unnecessary because of the legality of the Accession, is not feasible; it would be a recipe for balkanisation.
Dr T Jotangia also mentioned the Instrument of Accession to join the Dominion of India and promoted the philosophy of world is one big family and pray that all be happy, He promoted the resolution through talks between the governments of India, Pakistan and China.
Interesting Questions and Answers session followed which included the failures on the part of Lord Mountbatten, Mahatama Gandhi and Jawahar Lal Nehru who let this horrific situation happen and not addressing the issues efficiently and effectively during 1947, 1948 and 1962 respectively.
Satya Minhas, Chairperson Metropolitan Police Hindu Association and the IEKF Executive Member provided a summary of the event and gave vote of thanks to the host RH Marcus Jones, Member of Parliament & Minister in the Central Government, learned speakers and Ms. Krishna Bhan for organising such an important and unique event.
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