‘Forcing Maharaja in exile ruined Kashmir’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 24: Apni Party candidate for Anantnag Rajouri constituency, Zafar Iqbal Manhas held first Indian Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru and first Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah responsible for Kashmir crisis and 34 year long turmoil in Valley.
Interacting with Kashmiri Pandit intellectuals and members of Apni Party at Press Club here, Manhas said the two leaders jointly ruined J&K and were responsible for the erosion of its plurality. Had Nehru on the instance of Sheikh not ordered ceasefire in 1947 when Pak intruders were on the run and Maharaja Hari Singh not exiled from erstwhile State of J&K Kashmir would never have gone through dark era of over last 30 years and people of Jammu and Kashmiri including Hindus and Muslims would not have suffered and faced the blood shed.
Manhas said both Sheikh and Nehru committed blunder after blunder and asked what was the fun of declaring plebiscite when Sheikh himself had rejected Two Nation Theory and ratified the accession with India made by Maharaja?. “These parties are worst enemies of Kashmiris who only promoted their dynasties at the cost of common man,” he added.
Maintaining that Kashmir is identified with Pandits who are its indigenous people, Manhas strongly advocated for their rehabilitation back in Valley. He said Kashmir crisis will over the day Pandits are rehabilitated back in Kashmir towards which no Government worked sincerely till date. “I was pained when the community was forced to leave Kashmir and was on forefront in opposing the forces responsible for their mass exodus. My write-ups in various news papers are a witness to it.
Manhas said if elected he will work for rehabilitation of Pandits and other minorities of Kashmir back in Valley while strongly advocating for the settlement of the community in a single township. He said there is need to build bridges among the communities and an initiative needs to be taken now. He cautioned people against the vicious designs of both PDP and NC whom he blamed of playing communal politics to divide people further.
Vijay Bakaya general secretary, Apni Party and former MLC while appealing migrants to vote for Manhas said Apni Party is only organization which boldly said that J&K has no future except India. He held parties which ruled J&K responsible for turmoil that led to annulling of its special status.
Besides, Apni Party provincial president, Manjit Singh, Prof B L Zutshi, M K Bangroo, Jaikrishan, Birj Nath Betab, Nazir Ahmed, A K Naz, Somnath Dhar and Abhay Bakaya addressed the gathering. Nana Ji Wattal managed stage. Apni party leader Rohit Gupta, Pawneet Kour Women Wing chief of the party, Arun Chibber additional general secretary of the party senior KP leader Prof A N Sadhu among others attended the programme.
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