STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Expressing satisfaction over decision of the J&K government to declare October 26 as public holiday, Vice Chancellor of Central University Himachal Pradesh, Prof (Dr) Kuldeep Agnihotri said that after abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A, celebrating Accession Day will be the permanent feature in the Union Territory of J&K.
Prof Agnihotri was speaking in a function organized by the J&K chapter of Jammu-Kashmir Study Centre (JKSC) at Brig Rajinder Singh Auditorium at Jammu University.
Vice Chancellor of Jammu University, Prof Manoj Dhar presided over the function.
Prof Agnihotri said that first stem to merge J&K with Indian Union was taken by Maharaja Hari Singh after signing Instrument of Accession.
The second and final step was taken by the Parliament on August 5, 2019 by abrogating Article 370, which was temporary in character, he added.
While terming accession as full and final, Prof Agnihotri called for celebrating October 26 as Accession Day every year as a mark of respect to Maharaja Hari Singh.
He said if any one has any problem about the same, he can be made to understand that when there is no problem in celebrating Haryana Day, Himachal Day etc what problem can be there in celebrating Accession Day of J&K on October 26.
Hailing Maharaja Hari Singh for signing Instrument of Accession, he said Maharaja was great votary of joining Indian Union that he opposed Sheikh and Nehru who favoured that 1846 treaty be made null and void to make J&K part of British India and if it would have happened the J&K would never have been part of India.
“If this policy would have succeeded, Kashmir would have been part of Pakistan today”, he added. He also said that Maharaja did not want to be independent saying that he had not received a single proof in this regard. He hailed Maharaja Hari Singh as the most leading ruler of the sub-continent, who said that ‘the justice to all is my rule’.
Emphasizing on the need of coordination between different departments of Jammu University with JKSC, Prof Manoj Dhar said that subjects identified with JKSC deserve attention of the academicians. He stressed on the need of liberating areas of the erstwhile state of J&K, including PoJK and Aksai Chin, illegally occupied by Pakistan and China.
Vice president of JKSC, J&K chapter, Prof Varinder Kundal presented vote of thanks in the function.
Later activists of JKSC, comprising university teachers, journalists, lawyers, members of the civil society, took out a march from Jammu University. The march culminated at the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh on the Tawi bridge to pay tributes to the greater ruler.