Dr. Shyamaprasad Mukherjee came forward with dedicated prolific efforts to preserve the integrity and security of our nation.

In his first letter to Pandit Nehru, Dr. Mukharjee wrote that the agitation of Praja Parishad had been supported by several ones who were not members of the Parishad. He narrated that the leaders of the Praja Parishad attempted to bring a solution through the constitutional procedure.

They presented the memorandum to the Honourable President of Bharat and also to Shaikh Abdullah. Put forward their side through the media. But, instead of hearkening to the burning issue, they looked down upon them in disdain.They charged them with the allegation that the Praja Parishad has been spreading violence. The Parishad had shown its willingness to face and undergo any scrutiny required, to solve the issue.

Jammu has witnessed gruesome atrocities in the last Six weeks. It appears that the administration of barbarousness has been imposed in the state. Anyway, You have already mentioned that if it was in your hand, You would have utilized stricter power and squashed the agitation.

I am sure You have been well aware that Thirteen hundred satyagrahis are currently imprisoned. The Government has been deploying Tear Gas, Lathi charges, and firing. The prisoners have been transferred to very cold places, with only a handful of clothes. The wealth of the Satyagrahis has been confiscated. Still, time that You and Shaikh Abdullah to understand the truth, that this agitation can not be suppressed.

The people of Jammu have some very valid demands. They are fearful and doubtful of their future and they are seeking a solution for it. It is still believed that accession of Kashmir in Bharat would be depending on the Plebiscite. The conduct of the Security Council has manifested that We would not get justice. Adopting the option of a Plebiscite is definitely not the desirable alternative. The resolution for infinite annexation in Bharat, presented and passed by the Jammu-Kashmir Constituent Assembly, should suffice as the people’s opinion.

Dr. Mukharjee revealed in the letter to Pandit Nehru, that Shaikh Abdullah had specified to him that he and his colleagues were in agreement with the passing of the resolution but Pandit Nehru was against it!!!

He alleged Pandit Nehru that earlier, he was overwhelmed by the so-called nonpartisan ship and objectivity of the Security Council but now, that bewilderment had been terminated. He stressed the demand to create the upcoming strategy, hence it would not create any more hindrances.

The second question had been related to the preposition of the finite annexation of the Jammu-Kashmir state in Bharat. He emphasized the fact that the people of Jammu have been accentuating the issue that the annexation of Jammu-Kashmir has been achieved on similar lines as that of other states and it should be accepted as it is. He argued that they haven’t uttered anything bizarre. They have just focused on the “Idea of Independent Bharat”.

The separate flag and elected prime minister for the state would prove to be lethal and a disintegrator of political unity.

He appealed to Pandit Nehru to communicate to Shaikh Abdullah and release the jailed Satyagrahis as well as abolish the charges levied upon them. He repeatedly requested Pandit Nehru to not convert this into a matter of prestige and call for a combined meeting to amicably resolve the issue.

He conveyed that he had not written this letter, at the request of Praja Parishad but he, personally adhered to the belief that if he would take this matter to heart and walk a step in the appropriate direction, a respectful conciliation could be achieved.

Unfortunately, Pandit Nehru had ‘decided’ to see every occurrence through Shaikh Abdullah’s glasses, hence  Dr. Mukharjee’s earnest letter could not turn around his heart and alter his opinion.

Pandit Nehru, in his reply to Dr. Mukharjee, discarded the Praja Parishad agitation as violent and cogent. He was convinced that the agitation did not really have people’s support and whatever little it had, was forceful and out of fear!!! 

He accused Praja Parishad of attacking the police force and injuring the officers as well as dismantling the infrastructure. Pandit Nehru’s trustworthy Karn Sinh also opined in no uncertain terms that -” the situation in Jammu has been critical. It is not due to armed forces being attacked. It has been visible that the agitation of Praja Parishad has reached the remotest corners of the region and the majority of the population has rendered their support to it.”

But, alas!!! 

Pandit Nehru continued following Shaikh’s tunes and absolutely refused to give an ear to any other assessment. Shaikh continued playing the trumpet of ” agitation as the violent reaction of Jammu’s affluent class and the moneylenders.” Pandit Nehru’s second fear, which has ruined Bharat’s secular fabric in all these years post-independence, was about ‘agony among Muslims’ as the result of Praja Parishad’s agitation!!!

He wrote to Dr. Mukherjee, ” If Muslim League would ablaze agitation against Bharat and in favor of Pakistan, in the Kashmir valley, how would We face and resolve it?!!!”

In answer to such a bizarre fright of Pandit Nehru, Dr. Mukherjee was dismayed. Astoundingly he replied to Pandit Nehru, that Shaikh Abdullah and his colleagues, walking on the path of Separatism, appear patriotic to You and Praja Parishad’s dedicated wish for Bharat’s integrity and sovereignty and the yearning to be ruled by Bharatiya Constitution, like any other citizen of Bharat, seems anti-national in your eyes.”

He was extremely appalled at Pandit Nehru’s quandary regarding Muslim League’s reaction followed by its agitation. If after the formation of Pakistan and that too on a religious base, if Muslim League would ignite an agitation in favor of Pakistan, the solution should be simply asking them to migrate to Pakistan.

But, Pandit Nehru did not have the heart to address the issue in such a strict manner as he had grasped that Muslims in Bharat could be his vote bank, in years to come, and appeasing them was a sure-shot route for being in power. But, “unfortunately” for Pandit Nehru, many nationalist Muslims of Jammu, supported Praja Parishad and participated in the agitation.

The Redcliff line was the boundary demarcated between Punjab province and Bengal presidency of British India. Very unfortunately, both states suffered unrepairable jolt due to the division of their states.

The partition caused unmatched misery to the Hindus & Sikhs living on the ‘other side of the border’. Saving them and enduring their survival from the unbearable atrocities, a huge number crossed the newly formed border and migrated to West Punjab. (Similarly in Bengal). Some of the Muslims too, had opted to shift to Pakistan. Jammu was situated on the road leading toward both the destination. Hence, the atmosphere in Jammu had turned exceptionally inflammatory.

Shaikh Abdullah, grabbing the chance of pouncing over the Parishad, put the onus of assassination of Muslims, (due to partition followed by migration) on them and their agitation!!!

In fact, Shaikh Abdullah never left any occasion, without condemning Hindus for atrocities on Muslims during communal riots in Jammu in 1947 and very conveniently skipped that it was out of reaction to barbaric conduct over Hindus in newly formed Pakistan.

Whenever the discussion on the Kashmir issue, Pandit Nehru would immediately mention, ‘International Plebiscite ‘ and ‘World Power’… While writing to Dr. Mukharjee, he argued in his letter that -” The issue of Princely state would not be solved by Judicial decisions or Constituent amendments. There are numerous international factors, which would turn the constituent components, subordinate and peripheral.”

What was the question of the life and death situation raised by Praja Parishad, was only an issue of International debate in the eyes of Pandit Nehru!!!

A nation and especially one which has earned its independence from foreign clutches, after a prolonged struggle, can only grow and glow, on the global platform, if its ruler, keeps the well-being, security, and prosperity of its own people -the citizens of his country, as the prime focus.

But,  regrettably, Pandit Nehru had been mangled under international pressure as it was of strategic importance for the British and the Western countries to retain Jammu Kashmir as a separate nation, if not annexed in Pakistan. Moreover, he had grasped that a large chunk of the Muslim population that remained in Bharat, would turn into his Vote bank, and appeasing them was quintessential. 

Dr. Mukharjee replied to Pandit Nehru’s comment on the ‘importance of international factors’  –  “You continued pointing out the international complicacy but  nobody would profess that the manner in which You attempted to resolve the Kashmir issue, our international prestige would be enhanced or we would have derived international empathy.”

Pandit Nehru was hell bent on his dogmatism. He traveled across the country and propagandize that Praja Parishad’s agitation was based on communal ethos and had been supported by the collective strength!!!

To which Dr. Mukharjee snapped back -” You have been repeatedly accusing us as communal but You have looked away from Muslim Communalism, all your life and it has produced devastating results. You, along with Your colleagues, adopted and nurtured the policy of Muslim appeasement, maybe Your motive was a noble one, but it caused the partition of the nation. You continued manifesting that You would not allow the partition.

At that time, the foreign rulers with a ‘divide and rule’ policy held our clutches. But, now We wish to overcome those blunders. We consider the nation’s well-being and national interest as prime. We do not have any communal boastfulness, in our hearts.”

Adequate signals had been conveyed to Pandit Nehru about Shaikh’s activity. 

Ample proofs had been presented depicting the movements of Shaikh Abdullah during the heat of agitation. The deputy director of the Intelligence Bureau, Mullick had alerted Pandit Nehru about Shaikh’s whereabouts. He mentioned – ” As per Pandit Nehru, the root cause of Shaikh’s such conduct had been based on his fanatic ideology. Though he had modified his mask to acquire political benefits, he had been unable to change it thoroughly from the soul.

The most unfortunate affair,  was the approach and belief of Pandit Nehru as in spite of knowing the reality with evidence regarding Shaikh Abdullah, he had blindly continued supporting him and glancing through his glasses.