Mahadeep Singh Jamwal
It sounds strange when very senior leaders of political parties, after being deprived of the power, make statements and give expert opinions, which reflect nothing than absurdity. The P Chidambaram, a very senior leader of Congress as well as ex-Home Minister of India in UPA regime, in an interview with Karan Thapar, on India Today, stated ‘Give Autonomy or pay heavy price’, proposing radical solution to the situation in Kashmir and it is finding space in many local news papers, is not only a political statement but devoid of any logic, as the Kashmir problem is not a problem, which can be come over by economic packages, but it require a political solution being a problem created by politicians itself and hijacked by Jihadis, antinational and separatists ideologies, within and from other nations. What Autonomy he means? It is beyond the concept and reach of any right thinking person. If it refers to the concept of erstwhile NC government of Autonomy resolution, then one must be clear on the subject that the clock cannot be set to the past and any such resolutions have been thrown to its right place i.e. dustbin. Were they in coma when their colleagues in the government were indulging in amassing huge wealth by corrupt practices and same Kashmir was burning in 2008 and 2010? , where were their great knowledge and suggestions to give Autonomy and to fulfill the great bargain promised during the time of Kashmir accession. How he forget, that it was Congress PM at that relevant time of accession and there after too, for a considerable years, were the PMs of this party at the center and CM in the State also. The ex-HM advocated to honoring the ‘grand bargain’ under which Kashmir had acceded to India, here one can understand in a simple way, that on one hand he has given a solution to Kashmir issue in the shape of ‘giving Autonomy’ and on other hand had advised to fulfill the promise agreed at the time of accession of granting ‘grand bargain’, by granting a large degree of Autonomy with further stating that, let people of Kashmir frame their own laws. This speaks of absolute geriatric stage of brain, as the State of Jammu and Kashmir, having its both Houses of Assembly and Council, together is constitutionally empowered to make laws for its people and doing well, since the adaptation of its Constitution in 1956. I wonder about the knowledge of such a high profile leader about various aspects of the Jammu and Kashmir State, acceded to India as per available provisions enshrined in the Indian Independence Act, 1947.
If we go through the Accession Document signed by Maharaja, we neither find anything as a ‘grand bargain’ asked for as advocated by Chidambaram, nor there do any mention of further ratification of the accession at any point of time. It was an option available in the Indian Independence Act, 1947, by virtue of Government of India Act, 1935, adopted and applied to Dominion of India. And Government of India Act, 1935 provides that “an Indian State may accede to the Dominion of India by an Instrument of Accession’ executed by the Ruler thereof”. The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, was adopted by The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, an elected body in 1956. The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir adopted its Preamble as: “We, the people of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, having solemnly resolved, in pursuance of the, accession of this state to India, which took place on the twenty seventh day of October, 1947, to further define the existing relationship of the state with the Union of India as an integral part thereof.”
When we go through the contents of the document, signed by His Excellency, the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir Hari Singh, we find that this ‘Instrument of Accession’ comprises of nine paras and it does not have any stipulation which is being advocated by Chidambaram as ‘grand bargain’ to be adhered and this ‘Instrument of Accession’ was accepted by inscription of following words “I do accept this Instrument of Accession dated this twenty seventh day of October nineteen hundred and forty seven” by Lord Mountbatten Governor-General of India. So concept of grand bargain under which Kashmir had acceded to India is self created myth of the Congress leader and it is a blind shot with calculated move of giving rise to a new controversy about accession. The people of Jammu and Kashmir State, give no authority to anyone to speak on un-founded issue not based on real perspective with regard to the J and K scenario.
