Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 25: While contradicting the BJP president and Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement that people from other parts of the country “travel to J&K without permit due to Shama Prasad Mookerjee’s sacrifice” Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) vice president and former MLC G N Monga today said that permit system to travel to the State ended only after Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad Government’s tenure.
“Amit Shah is not fully aware about the history as the permit system to travel to J&K was in place till Bakshi sahib’s tenure and not till when 1952 Mookarjee was detained. The permit system was a creation of Maharaja Hari Singh and during his rule it was mandatory for non-State subjects to secure permission from the State Government before their entry into the State,” he said in a statement issued to press here.
“Even, historical background to make a distinction between permanent and non-permanent residents can be traced back to an agitation against the hiring of outside State people in the State administration, which eventually led to a 1927 law promulgated by Maharaja Hari Singh that sought to provide certain privileges to permanent residents, especially in the purchase of land,” he said.
Monga said the Maharaja implemented this rule in letter and spirit and his resolve to resist acts of aggression against his State were appreciable.
The Congress leader said that BJP was trying to twist the historical facts. “Not only people of Kashmir region, but people of Jammu and Ladakh regions too will resist any move by the Center to revoke Article 35-A tooth and nail as it is equally beneficial for the people of all the regions of the State,” he added.
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