Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 26: The Accession Day was celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm in Jammu region today. In this connection functions and public meetings were organized by various political parties and social organizations across the Jammu region.
Public Opinion Forum (POF) a non-political, social organization celebrated the Accession Day in front of Maharaja Hari Singh statue at Tawi bridge, here.
The organization is celebrating 26th October as Accession Day every year by garlanding the statue of the last ruler of the State, Maharaja Hari Singh and by distributing a specially made Ladoos among the people. This year the Public Opinion Forum distributed a 73 kilo Ladoo specially made by Badgotra Sweets, Sainik Colony to synonymies the 73rd Accession Day. Parveen Sharma, president and Dr. Gopal Parthasarthi Sharma, general secretary of Public Opinion Forum garlanded the statue of Maharaja as a mark of gratitude to him for signing the Instrument of Accession with India notwithstanding hostile and turbulent situation prevailing in 1947.
A large number of people from different walks of life including intelligentsia, academicians, doctors, public representatives, businessmen, social activists, office bearers of social organizations and students were present on the occasion. Various speakers enlightened the gathering about the circumstances under which the State acceded to the Indian Union at that time. While some of the speakers dealt with the historical perspective of Accession others talked about the future course of action to ensure more power and development for the Jammu region that has witnessed large-scale discrimination at the hands of the successive Governments in the State during past seventy years or so.
ABVP Jammu Mahanagar organized a seminar on Accession Day and “Article 370 ; origin and end at Jammu Club.
Speaker J&K Assembly, Dr Nirmal Singh was the chief guest on the occasion. Chief speaker on the occasion was Prof. Kuldip Chander Agnihotri (Vice Chancellor , Central University, Himachal Pradesh).
The programme was presided over by Chander Mohan Gupta, Mayor, JMC) and Vikrant Khandelwal , Northzone ,Zonal Org. secretary, ABVP was the guest of honour.
DR. A.P Singh, City president in his welcome address gave introduction of topic and he paid tributes to Mahraja Hari Singh who rejected Pakistan and acceded to secular India. He also termed abrogation of Article 370 by Narendra Modi Government a historical decision to ensure total integration of State with India.
Panun Kashmir (PK) organized a public meeting to celebrate the Accession Day which was attended by galaxy of prominent citizens form cross section of the society. The KPs were jubilant during the celebration and termed the celebration akin to Diwali before Diwali as it was on this day on October 26, 1947, the last ruler of the princely State of Jammu and Kashmir signed the same standard form of Instrument of Accession that was signed by all other rulers after the exit of British rulers. On the occasion glowing tributes were paid to Pt Kripa Ram who led a delegation of prominent Kashmiris to Guru Teg Bahadur against the atrocities of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.
Those who spoke on the occasion included Dr Agnishekhar convener, PK, its chairman, Dr Ajay Chrungoo, Shalinder Aima its vice president and prominent social activist Pyare Lal Koul Badgami. They said that empowerment of KPs is not possible till a separate Homeland with UT status is carved out in Kashmir. They congratulated the community on the celebration of Accession Day and said this day holds a great significance for all nationalist people of erstwhile Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir. On the occasion a documentary on the genocide and religious cleansing of KPs conceived by Tito Ganjo was shown.
JKNPPP also organised a function to celebrate the Accession Day. The speakers while addressing the gathering said State of Jammu & Kashmir founded by Dogra Maharaja, Gulab Singh in 1846 was demolished by Central BJP Government on August 5, 2019.The Act of BJP’s leadership in demolishing nearly 200 years old State of Jammu & Kashmir has been rejected by the residents of Jammu & Kashmir which amounts to insulting the great founders of Jammu & Kashmir and also thousands of soldiers who sacrificed their lives since 1947 till date for the defence and protection the State of Jammu & Kashmir.
The JKNPP, while remembering Maharaja Hari Singh who signed the Instrument of Accession on 26th October, 1947 with the Union of India said that demolition of great State which was founded by first Dogra Maharaja Gulab Singh and acceded to the Union of India by Maharaja Hari Singh has not been accepted by the people of Jammu & Kashmir.
The JKNPP celebrating 72nd Anniversary of J&K Accession with the Union of India called on the Parliament of India to withdraw its resolution it passed on 5th August, 2019 converting the State as two Union Territories. The people of Ladakh had been asking for it for long whereas the citizens of India in Jammu & Kashmir have not accepted the Parliament decision to demolish the J&K State and convert it into a Union Territory.
The Panthers Party while celebrating the 72nd Accession Anniversary Day declared that the State of Jammu & Kashmir, as such, shall continue to be a State and the people shall not accept Union Territory status.
Those who addressed the conference included Prof. Bhim Singh, Chief patron – JKNPP, Harsh Dev Singh, chairman – JKNPP Balwant Singh Mankotia, Ex-MLA & president – JKNPP, Yashpaul Kundal, general secretary – JKNPP, Anita Thakur, Basharat Ali, general secretaries – JKNPP, Balwan Singh, Rajinder Singh Manju and others.
The BJP Rajouri Unit marked the celebration of Accession Day by paying tributes to Maharaja Hari Singh, Pt Deen Dayal Upahdhay, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Pt. Prem Nath Dogra and all those other leaders who fought for liberating J&K from terrorism, communal politics and struggled for united and strong J&K.
Speaking on the occasion, MLC Vibodh Gupta said that the battle of peace, tranquility and prosperity in J&K will not be fought in court rooms or in the streets but in the hearts of the people of the JandK. He said Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has won the hearts of people by taking concrete steps such as crackdown on corrupt leaders, holding local body elections, BDC elections and abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A.
The Accession Day was also celebrated by Sainik Samaj Party at a function here today with great spirit of nationalism and paid floral tributes to Maharaja Hari Singh, The Flag hoisting of National Flag was also done among the chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Maharaja Hari Singh Amar Rahe.
Yuva Rajput Sabha celebrated Accession Day of Jammu and Kashmir with the Union of India.
Addressing the gathering, Surinder Singh Gill said that on this day in 1947 Maharaja Hari Singh the then ruler of J&K signed the Instrument of Accession of J&K with Union of India and as such this day forms a very important landmark in the history.
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