Shaikh Abdullah was in London, when the state had been engulfed by bedlam. Of course, he was conveyed about every instance of disorder by his deputy Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad.

After one and a half month, the Shaikh Government in Kathua of Jammu, spoke about the unspoken cause behind this agitation and the prevailing atmosphere of disarray. The revenue minister of the state – Mirza Afzal Baig, in no uncertain terms, stated that : ” Till there is National Conference Government in the state, its flag with the plough would be unfurled.”

After a few days, the Prime Minister Shaikh too, echoed the similar sentiments. He strongly supported the cause and added that they had struggled under the National Conference flag and they were still combating. Hence, the flag was their uniting factor under which they had obtained independence and all those participating in any event – Government ‘s or of National Conference, would have to honour it.

Shaikh Abdullah gave the stern explanation but refrained from asserting the permissibility of unfurling political party’s flag in the Government programme. 

National Conference was a political outfit and no one would have any objection, in any kind of honour it would receive from its followers and karyakartas but to impose its symbols on those who did not affirm its ideology, was erroneous.

The agitation created ripples of sympathy among the people of Jammu and the heat of it became unbearable for Shaikh. Eventually, the National Conference Government had no choice but to forfeit the amercement imposed on the students as well as cancel their expulsion from the University.

The agony was ablaze in the hearts of people of Jammu, for a long time. They were miffed with the subordinated treatment incurred towards them by the National Conference Government. The students’ agitation, only ignited the fuming rage.

It was considered the first victory against the National Conference Government but the Praja Parishad leaders were not evicted as yet. Infact, he accused them of enkindling the agitation and creating disorder in the state.

The said “Democratic” Government of National Conference, hardly permitted the ‘free speech and expression’ to Jammu’s media. “Milap” and “Pratap” were the largely circulated newspapers in the Jammu region. Both were banned from circulation in the state. The state police raided the Prem Printing Press and captured their printing material and records, alleging them of printing the agitation related material. The owner of the press was the editor of a weekly – “Kashmir Mail”. One article published in the weekly was titled – ” जालिम कंस का बच्चों पर अत्याचार शुभ शगुन”. 

The Government considered it as catastrophic and levied upon 1000/- rupees indemnity!!!

The editor deemed it as an attack on his constitutional right of “free speech” and challenged it in the state high court.

In a few days, the government banned the circulation of weekly “Organiser” published in Delhi. The “Organizer” pointed out that – “In democracy, if the citizens have grievances, then it is essential to enquire, retrospect and  bring solutions. To ban the complainer, is not democratic. Shaikh repeatedly clamours about Democracy, but does he wish to see it only outside of his state, till Pathankot?”

The echo of incidences of atrocities of Jammu, was heard in Parliament in Delhi. The member of parliament – Prof. Shibbanlal Saxena’s reaction was filled with pain and vexation. 

He said, “Putting the students on hunger strike, behind the bar, is the height of atrociousness. I respect Shaikh Abdullah but I am deeply shocked by the incident in Jammu. A person like Santram Baru, who is an advocate as well as an ex member of the National Conference Council, travelled in frustration, all the way to Delhi in torn and tattered clothes and informed us, regarding what is happening there!!! This is a blot on Shaikh’s administration. Obviously, the large majoritarian Hindu society is being tormented. They are being harassed and threatened. Shaikh Abdullah says the agitation does not have public support. On the contrary, thousands of Hindu women along with thousands of men have come on the roads to exhibit and protest. The army has to be alerted to control the situation. What more people’s support than this is required? Seventy years old Premnath Dogra has been kept as captive in Srinagar jail, where it has snowed. Dogra is the most respected leader of Jammu. Praja Parishad is considered as the communal political outfit. Even if we agree with that logic, it is the only political party of Jammu. Will the government conduct in a non-respectful manner with the opposition? Another member was also astonished that Praja Parishad’s demand had been complete accession in Bharat, abrogation of article 370, they are manifested as enemies!!!”

The Government of Bharat was appalled and in dismay with the Jammu agitation. In early April of 1952,  N.Gopalswami  Aiyangar, the minister for Princely States, arrived in Jammu. Officially, the issue of Jammu agitation was not on his itinerary but witnessing the colossal impact of the agitation, he pressured the state government to immediately release the Praja Parishad leaders, who were still in captivity. In two days, Parishad’s president -Pandit Premnath Dogra, Vice president – Shivraj Gupta and Gyanchand Sadavrati were released from the prison. Shaikh Abdullah himself, declared this information in the felicitation function of Aiyanger.

There was no valid reason for imprisoning the Parishad leaders, hence the National Conference Government levied charges  under the defamed act of Bharat Security Act and Public Safety Regulations. Under these acts, the ostensible convict did not get benefits of general judicial procedure.

A few years ago, Pandit Nehru had attempted to put the onus of Mahatma Gandhi’s death on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and tried to weaken its strength and people’s conviction in it. Similar endeavour was initiated by Pandit Nehru’s close ally Shaikh Abdullah. Under the pretext of Students agitation, he instituted a plan to defunct Praja Parishad and create fear in the hearts of common karyakartas.

Initially, National Conference was only a political outfit active in the state of Jammu – Kashmir. Congress had not opened its branch in the region, as ideologically Nehru related to Shaikh and considered him as an ally. The Communists were already part of the National Conference and that too, before the British left Bharat. Later in 1947, another political outfit, the Praja Parishad with different ideology was established and within no time, it strengthened its roots, especially in Jammu region.

Pandit Premnath Dogra was as popular in Jammu as Shaikh was in Kashmir valley. 

Praja Parishad had profound credence in Jammu & Kashmir’s annexation with Bharat, whereas the National Conference was openly defying it. Shaikh Abdullah had grasped that the growing stature of Praja Parishad in Kashmir would enfeeble the National Conference ‘s capacity to negotiate with the central Government in Delhi.

Praja Parishad was keen to work as a general political body. The existence of an agile and aware opposition was essential for democracy to protest against imprecise policies of the ruling party. Unfortunately, Shaikh was unwilling to accept the Opposition ‘s existence.

The communist countries followed the practice of one party rule. Walking on that path, Shaikh wished to extinguish every opposition party from Kashmir and only let the National Conference bloom.

Maharaja HariSinh, himself was in favour of establishing democratic governance in the state and the indication for this was already given in 1934, when he initiated conducting the first ever election of the people’s assembly. In Spite of his loyalty, Pandit Nehru had chosen to give the due credit to Shaikh Abdullah and not him for Kashmir’s accession with Bharat. 

Moreover, the Government of Bharat’s demeanour towards Maharaja was contradictory to their conduct with rulers from other princely states. 

The Nizam of Hyderabad, who was downright unfaithful to the nation and had commenced a war against Bharat, yet he had been given the due honour as the Rajpramukh of Hyderabad after the successful “Operation Polo”!!!

Maybe, it was the appeasement towards Muslims, in the mindsets of those who governed Bharat after independence. 

Unfortunately, Maharaja HariSinh could not even gain the “respect” on that ground and he had to evict his own motherland, his very beloved Kashmir, under the immense pressure created by Shaikh Abdullah and Pandit Nehru, in 1949. He lived the later years of his life in Mumbai and left for heavenly abode in 1961.

While addressing the newly elected Constituent Assembly of Jammu Kashmir, Shaikh Abdullah had narrated that the Government of Bharat, considered the National Conference as a proficient body regarding the decision of Kashmir’s annexation in Bharat and not that of Maharaja Hari Singh’s. According to Shaikh, the Government of Bharat was reluctant initially about taking the decision of annexation, as the request had come from Maharaja and not from Kashmir’s principal organisation – National Conference!!! 

He had also added that the Government of Bharat agreed upon the proposal of Kashmir’s annexation in Bharat, as the National Conference was acquiescent with it. Maharaja HariSinh ‘s signature was just a ritual!!!

Maharaja Hari Singh was a progressive and popular ruler. Lord Mountbatten had  pressured him to amalgamate with Pakistan but bearing all the pressure, he did not budge. Neither he bowed down to the British but Pandit Nehru portrayed that Shaikh was the sole impactful leader of the state. His such a depiction created a perception in the hearts of people of Jammu as well as rest of the nation,  that for appeasing Shaikh Abdullah, Maharaja HariSinh was victimised with unjust conduct.

One more reason that agonised and annoyed the people of Jammu. 

As soon as Shaikh obtained the post of Prime Minister, he began publicly humiliating Maharaja and pressurising Pandit Nehru to evict him out of the state. 

Around the same time, he offered Maharaja’s son – Yuvraj Karna Sinh, the post of Regent!!!

It was a blow for people of Jammu, as the patriotic force of the region felt highly insulted.

Maharaja had turned into an iconic figure for the Duggar region. The Muslims of Jammu too, largely felt the affinity towards him.

Dislodging Maharaja HariSinh, spread the notorious message among citizens of Jammu. They perceived the notion that post Maharaja’s displacement, Jammu would be made a colony of Kashmir by the Kashmiris of the valley.

Shaikh, instead of initiating a communication with Dogras of Jammu, opted to silence them using the pressure tactics.

Shaikh Abdullah crossed all limits of respectful conduct with Maharaja and left no stone unturned in humiliating him. He proposed to charge him as War criminal!!!

Under such circumstances, Yuvraj KarnSinh’ acceptance to the post of Regent, from the very same person, was the blow unbearable, for the people of Jammu.

Shaikh Abdullah condemned Maharaja HariSinh in the meeting of the Constituent Assembly of the state but was all praise of his son, Yuvraj Karna Sinh, the new Regent.

This entire sequence of events startled the people of Jammu and Ladakh and they became more and more determined to agitate against Shaikh Abdullah’s authoritative rule. The more people of Kashmir valley claimed for independence of Kashmir, the demand of people of Jammu and Ladakh, for complete accession with Bharat, became stronger.

Pandit Nehru succumbed to Shaikh Abdullah’s persistence in July 1952. He agreed upon his insistence for a separate “head of the state” post, overlooking the opinions of the Constitutional Law experts. 

Bharat’s head of the state is addressed as the “President” in the constitution. The question arose, regarding the name to be given for Kashmir’s head of the state.

Kashmir’s constituent assembly named this post, as “sadar-e-riyaasat” translating the word “president” in Urdu!!!

Maharaja Hari Singh’s son Karna Sinh accepted this post and headed straight to Jammu. 

Jammu, emotionally attached to its Maharaja was yearning for amalgamating in Bharat. This was a rude shock for people of Jammu and Ladakh.

Praja Parishad decided to give a befitting reply to the beginning of separatist activity. Jammu witnessed the largest strike and gave a call on the loudest voice –  “दो निशान, दो विधान, दो प्रधान नही चलेंगे, नही चलेंगे।” (Do nishaan, do vidhaan, do pradhaan nahi chalenge, nahi chalenge.”)

Sources of Information :

हमारी भूलोका स्मारक : धर्मांतरित कश्मीर : नरेन्द्र सहगल

कश्मीर : दहकते अंगारे : जगमोहन जी

जम्मू कश्मीर की अनकही कहानियां: कुलदीप चंद अग्निहोत्री

Kashmir : Behind The Vale : M J Akbar

My Frozen Turbulence in Kashmir : Jagmohan ji