J&K’s accession to India irrevocable: Ajatshatru

Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 28

Grandson of Maharaja Hari Singh, the last Dogra ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, Ajatshatru Singh has said that J&K’s accession to India is irrevocable and the country should launch an aggressive campaign to counter the propaganda of Pakistan at every forum in the world.

Ajatshatru, who is also a Member of Legislative Council (MLC) in the state, was speaking during a function organised in British Parliament in London to celebrate the Accession Day, the 69th anniversary of the signing of the Instrument of Accession by Maharaja Hari Singh on October 26, 1947.

“Hari Singh was a great nationalist and was known for his secular credentials and acceded to India for keeping his secular state with a secular India but unfortunately he was not given a fair deal by the historians and new generation must work towards rectifying the history,” said Ajatshatru.

He also recalled the great sacrifices made by his forefathers and Dogra warriors in establishing the state and the sacrifice made by Brigadier Rajinder Singh in 1947 which saved the Kashmir valley from the tribal hordes supported by the Pakistani army.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a vision for J&K and there is need for an aggressive policy to educate world community about the false propaganda unleashed by Pakistan on Kashmir. A majority of the people of the state are peace-loving and they will ultimately defeat the separatist tendencies in the state,” said Ajatshatru.

He expressed his gratitude to the organisers and public for showering their blessings and love for him and his family members. “Being grandson of Hari Singh, I owe a lot to the people of the state and would work tirelessly for the public welfare,” he said. Ajatshatru was accompanied by his wife Ritu Singh and son Ranvijay Singh.

He thanked British parliamentarian Bob Blackman, the Jammu Kashmir Festival team led by Lakshmi Koul, Manu Khajuria and Lalit Sharma, and others for making the programme a grand success.

The event was a culmination of the six-day J&K Festival that showcased various aspects of the state to the people of London. The festival included various exhibitions at the Visual Arts Gallery at Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan, West Kingston, performances by artistes of Natrang Music and Dance group headed by Balwant Thakur, lecture-cum-demonstrations by various artists and serving of the state’s rich cuisine.