The Delhi settlement between Nehru and Abdullah proved that Bharat had surrendered to Shaikh Abdullah’s demands or it could also mean that Pandit Nehru had lost the control over the condition.The atmosphere in Jammu and Ladakh was increasingly getting tense as they were unsure about their future.  

Amidst the situation of uncertainty,  Praja Parishad decided to organise a general convention to chart out the future strategies on the 9th and the 10th August 1952. They extended an invitation to Dr. Shyamaprasad Mukherjee, member of Loksabha and the President of Bharatiya Jansangh. The other political outfits were also invited.

Dr.Mukharjee had agreed to attend the convention, along with Umashankar Trivedi and Ramnarayan Sinh but heart in heart, he had a longing that if Shaikh Abdullah would show some empathy and affinity to understand and care for the public sentiments of Jammu and Ladakh, the friction could be avoided. Hence, while addressing the people at the Pathankot railway station, he portrayed a positive picture of Shaikh Abdullah.

He mentioned that “Shaikh is a great leader, who has immensely contributed towards the welfare of his people as well as  the nation. Now, he should refrain from indulging in any such activities, which could hamper the unity of the country, where Kashmir is its one part. It is the sacred duty of the opposition, to object and draw the attention, if the one in administration, commits wrong doings. Following the line, I am mentioning that the policies of the Government of Kashmir are erroneous. I am not going to the state to oppose the Shaikh Abdullah Government but I am travelling to acquire information about people’s reaction  to the Nahru-Shaikh dialogue.

I strongly opine that the policies of the Government of Bharat are inaccurate.” While travelling from Pathankot to Jammu, Dr. Mukharjee addressed a public meeting at Kathua. He stated that, ” Before leaving Delhi, few of his Congressi friends had mentioned that he should not go to Jammu as Praja Parishad does not have people’s support. I would like to ask them to come over here and see for themselves, that the people are with Praja Parishad.

You all want the Bharatiya constitution to be implemented here. You all wish that the Bharatiya flag unfurls here. You all wish that the President of Bharat, remains your President too. All these are valid and just demands, full of patriotic values. They would have to agree. I assure You that I will do all I can. We would get the Bharatiya Constitution if we would sacrifice ourselves.”

No one knew that these words were going to turn into actuality, in the nearest future… On reaching Jammu, Dr. Mukherjee received an invitation for a dialogue with Shaikh Abdullah. (There are hardly any records available about their discussion but later in January 1953, the exchange of letters between them regarding the agitation initiated by the Praja Parishad, illustrates the glimpses of probable dialogue between the two.)

Mukharjee had told Shaikh Abdullah – “You should understand the deep rooted sentiments of the people of Jammu and put sincere efforts in eradicating the fear and doubts from their minds. You neither should adopt the disposition of non-cooperation towards them, nor should allow the split between You two, Increase. Now, You should take every step, which would initiate the creation of a new psychological climate and the people of every community accept You as their leader and feel that their future is secured in your hands.

You had challenged the bi-national ideology of Pakistan, in spite of immense hazards. Infact, it was an extremely big experimentation that even the Bharatiya leaders could not attempt. Bharat was divided due to their weak policies. You should not flout the salient problems faced by Jammu nor should You do anything that would encourage the separatism.“

But, these attempt by Dr. Mukharjee turned out futile, as Shaikh Abdullah, filled with presumptuous arrogance, denied every bit of his advice as according to him, – ” Praja Parishad hardly had any mass-base and secondly, the Parishad’s history had been condemnable and he wouldn’t like to keep any relations with its spokesperson, Pandit Premnath Dogra.”

After returning from Srinagar, Dr. Mukharjee addressed the Praja Parishad’s National Executive. The resolution passed by the National Executive, stated that -“If the current government of Jammu-Kashmir is not in agreement with infinite accession of the state in Bharat, the Government of Bharat should take initiative for complete annexation of Jammu and Ladakh, in Bharat. The people of Jammu consider themselves as the citizens of Bharat, hence they are in dissent regarding accepting any restriction imposed upon their constitutional rights as citizens of Bharat. The provisions regarding Judiciary (Supreme court), Citizenship, Fundamental Rights as well as the Economic Integration must be implemented in the state.

Those Muslims, who had chosen to migrate to the region captured by  Pakistan, should not be granted permission to be brought back with the intention of settling them here. Unless the region captured by Pakistan is not brought back and the non-Muslims refugees from those areas are not given the permission to re-settle on the land of their forefathers, they (the Hindu and Sikh refugees) should not be uprooted from here. Those refugees, who were unable to settle elsewhere, should be brought to settle in the state.

The continued attempts to re-settle the people left,  in the  land across the “Line of Control” should go on.” On returning from Jammu, Dr. Mukharjee called upon Pandit Nehru and explained about the condition in Jammu. 

He allegedly told Pandit Nehru that Praja Parishad was not an organisation of  dissatisfied zamindars, who had been deprived of their wealth and land. It is a democratic political outfit, which possesses capable leadership as well as has an enormous mass base. It has considerable impact in Jammu and to consider taking action against Parishad would be inappropriate.

Dr. Mukharjee repeatedly advised to take Praja Parishad in confidence, as their patriotism and honesty have been unquestionable. He stressed upon the potentiality and proficiency of Pandit Premnath Dogra and added that he could play a significant role in strengthening Kashmir’s unification with Bharat.

But, Pandit Nehru posed deaf ear to everything other than Shaikh’s opinion. Almost immediately, the process of implementation of Nehru-Shaikh dialogue began. Yuvraj KarnSinh’ was to be appointed as the elected Minister. Karn Sinh was aware that the people opposed his appointment. The Praja Parishad, very well knew that this was a gimmick of Shaikh Abdullah to distance Jammu-Kashmir from Bharat.

Karn Sinh had agreed to accept the post but heart in heart, he was dubious about possible discord from Praja Parishad, thus he decided to have a communication with the Parishad members. Yuvraj Karn Sinh invited a delegation of Praja Parishad to Srinagar. He had also extended an invitation to Jammu Chamber of Commerce but they refused to accept it. They stated that their stand on infinite accession of the state has been very clear and they do not intend to have any debate in this regard.

Under the leadership of Pandit Premnath Dogra, Lala Shivam Gupta, Thakur Hakikat Singh, Durgadas Verma, C N Dogra and Pandit Santram constituted the Praja Parishad delegation. Former Home Minister of the state Vazir Gangaram was also invited and later he too, submitted himself as a part of the delegation.

Meanwhile, Maharaja Hari Singh sent a memorandum to the President, stating the election of the Minister for the state, was an undemocratic step and asked him to interfere.

Pandit Premnath Dogra, on behalf of Praja Parishad declared that, until the Government of Bharat does not take any eventual decision on Maharaja’s abdication and the Constitution of the state had not been properly shaped, it would be improper as well as untimely to opine, weather Yuvraj Bahadur should be appointed as the head of the state. To which, Pandit Nehru commented, “I disapprove of such a comment by Dogra.”

On the 10th of September, under the leadership of the main Lamha of Ladakh, Kushak Bakulaji, a resolution was passed that the election of Ladakh Advisory Council should be held on the basis Adult Voting Rights and without the permission of the Council, the Jammu-Kashmir legislative assembly should refrain from taking any decision regarding Ladakh.

Praja Parishad had no other option than to initiate an agitation against the unruly conduct by the National Conference. They decided to give a call for a non-cooperation movement. In this regard, Thakur Dhanwant Singh, the Vice President of Parishad, sent a telegram addressed to the President of Bharat. It stated that to pressurise Maharaja HariSinh to disavow his title, surely would not be an intelligent route to take. Neither, such an example has ever been set and he is also a head of the state, as much as any other heads in the ‘B’ category of the Constitution. He also added that our case in the Security Council would also weaken with this move and hence, a re-thinking on this matter was essential.

But, Pandit Nehru in an extremely humiliating manner, discarded this appeal and addressed the Praja Parishad as ‘dictator’. Praja Parishad was keen on presenting their case and their plight in front of the nation. As the media was controlled by the Government of Bharat and along with the Government of Jammu-Kashmir, they were putting forward a negative and biassed picture of the issue. Pandit Nehru was promoting Shaikh Abdullah across the nation and giving the lop-sided view of the occurrence in the state, to the people.

This initiated Praja Parishad to give a befitting reply to Shaikh’s claims. They decided that Pandit Premnath Dogra would also tour the country and present the truth to the people. Pandit ji along with few of the other prominent leaders of Praja Parishad reached Pune in early October. While interacting with the media, he conveyed the happening the last few years and narrated how their (Jammu and Ladakh’s) demand for infinite annexation with Bharat has been challenged.

It has been an age-old tradition to nurture the bonding of various religious and cultural identities of the state. Shaikh too, initially depicted a strong outlook against Pakistan’s demand for bi-nationalism but later, he began singing the tune of separatism and this importunity created an obstruction in an ancient  bonding between various religions. Now, the seed of separatism encouraged the thought of “Separate Minister, Separate Constitution and Separate Symbol”.

The Government of Bharat had turned into Ostrich mode and had bent its knees to Shaikh and National Conference. He also enlightened the people about the possibility of Plebiscite and its effects. From Pune, the members of Praja Parishad travelled to Solapur on Maharashtra and Karnataka border, Chennai, Nagpur and Delhi.

Pandit Makhanlal, member of Praja Parishad travelled to Calcutta (Kolkata) and stated in his address that – “Praja Parishad would not rest until the infinite annexation of the Princely State, has been achieved. Until the Tiranga is unfurled on the Hari Parvat and Bahu Fort.”

In Meerut, Pandit Makhanlal commented that -” If Four Crore Muslims could reside in Bharat peacefully, then why would the twenty Lakh Muslims of Kashmir require a separate flag?!” Back from travelling across the nation, Pandit Premnath Dogra met with Dr. Mukharjee and Bharatiya Jansangh assured of its support in Praja Parishad ‘s agitation.

But, Shaikh Abdullah was in a dire hurry. Without sparing any time, he passed a resolution in the Jammu-Kashmir assembly, within no time, that ended the Dogra rule of 106 years. Praja Parishad did oppose the resolution in the state assembly. He fought tooth and nail, to at least grant the honour of being the head of the state, for Maharaja HariSinh. Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the president of Bharat, had initial reluctance but being burdened with undue pressure, he eventually signed the document, appointing Yuvraj Karn Sinh as the “Sadar – e – Riyasat”.

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