Sagar asks centre to hold talks with Pak; Sunil accuses speaker of allowing anti-national statements in house
NAVNEET DUBEY
Jammu: The issue of Maharaja Hari Singh again rocked Legislative Assembly on Wednesday over alleged ‘insult’ to the legacy of erstwhile ruler.
The issue cropped up when BJP MLA RS Pathania was speaking during a discussion on grants for Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Without naming deputy chief minister Surinder Choudhary, BJP member said, “Maharaja Hari Singh was labeled as dictator and public as well various social organizations in Jammu region as well as Kashmir condemned the remarks. The government is mum on the issue, it(Government) should tender a public apology”.
Hearing this NC MLAs took exception to the remarks and pointed out that no one insulted Hari Singh and instead accused BJP of hurting the legacy of erstwhile ruler by bifurcating and downgrading Jammu and Kashmir to a UT in one hand and adorning its erstwhile ruler Maharaja Hari Singh on the other.
Pathania however questioned who put Maharaja into exile and why he was not given a state funeral. “We should set the record straight and you (NC) should seek apology for insulting Maharja”, he said.
“Maharaja Hari Singh took significant steps to abolish untouchability, including proclaiming it an offense and opening state temples and places of worship to the Harijan community. On October 31, 1932, he made a formal proclamation, throwing open the doors of state temples and places of worship to the Harijans”, he added.
Congress MLA Irfan Lone accused BJP of downgrading the state given by Maharaja. “You have insulted Maharaja and not us,” he added.
Later senior NC MLA Ali Mohd Sagar also accused BJP of downgrading Maharaja State into union territory. He advocated holding talks with Pakistan.
Taking on the BJP over Jammu and Kashmir’s downgraded status, he said, “Even veteran leader Karan Singh (son of Maharaja Hari Singh, the erstwhile ruler of Jammu and Kashmir) has opposed the downgrading of Jammu and Kashmir from a state to a Union Territory. You have not shown respect to Maharaja Hari Singh and insulted his dignity by dismantling his state and dividing it. This is unheard of in the history of any country.” The BJP-led Centre abrogated the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, which had given a special status to Jammu and Kashmir, in August 2019 and bifurcated the erstwhile state into Union territories.
He pitched for holding talks with Pakistan and urged the BJP members in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to push New Delhi to engage in dialogue with the neighbouring country. “Nothing is possible without dialogue. You mentioned that former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee held talks with Pakistan. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi visited Pakistan. We always say that this is the only way to resolve issues,” Sagar said.
He also emphasised that the NC has always favoured dialogue as the path to achieve peace. “Our respected leader, Dr Farooq (Abdullah) sahab, had given you a suggestion (to hold talks with Pakistan) and I appeal to you with sincerity to pursue this path,” he told the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs.
Seeking support of the BJP MLAs, Sagar said, “Please go to Delhi with this suggestion (of Farooq Abdullah) and tell them to hold talks with Pakistan. God willing, our issue will be resolved,” he said.
Calling for reconciliation, the NC leader criticised what he described as attempts to impose a singular political ideology in the country. Sagar also took a swipe at BJP member Balwant Singh Mankotia and accused him of betraying his political mentor. “You deceived your mentor, Professor Bhim Singh. You should not preach to us,” he said.
Later Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma on raised doubts over the credibility of Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, alleging that the Speaker was allowing anti-national statements in the Assembly.
Sharma’s remarks came after National Conference (NC) leader Ali Mohammad Sagar allegedly mentioned Pakistan in his speech. “It seems Pakistan is in NC’s DNA. I had written a letter to Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, but NC MLAs continue to make anti-national statements, and the Speaker appears to favor them. I now have doubts over his credibility,” Sharma told reporters. He urged the Speaker to prevent such statements in the House, emphasizing the need to maintain the sanctity of the Assembly.
