Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 12: The former Union Minister, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta observed that July 13, cannot be a day of national pride and it was intriguing that certain elements in Kashmir call it as Martyrs Day but for communal considerations, in addition to cover up their own wrongs of the past.
He said that July 13, 1931, was answer to the bold statement of Maharaja Hari Singh who at the Round Table Conference of Indian princes, had pleaded the cause of independence of India by asserting that in his State of J&K the Muslims were in large majority but the people of all religions were living like brothers and there was no communal problems.
Prof. Gupta said that since then certain elements had been playing dubious game by masquerading as secular, but their role had never been above board. And in fact they have been the root cause of many problems causing great harm to the people of the State and moreso to the national interests.
As far as the future of this State is concerned, the J&K is legally and Constitutionally an integral part of India and no one has the authority to change this status but it was unfortunate that certain elements guided by vested interests were out to create misgivings and confusion. And that too even after taking oath of the Constitution where there is no scope for any secession.
As far as Pakistan is concerned, Prof. Gupta asserted that its position is not more than an aggressor. This fact was voiced even by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah on the floor of UN where he had maintained that “not the accession but aggression is the issue.”
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