Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj on Friday dared the Congress to approve autonomy or self-rule or restoration of pre 53 situation, aiming at weakening the constitutional, political relationship of J&K with the Centre, and get it passed by Parliament.
“I warn Prime Minister Manmohan Singh dare not to toy with any of these ideas, being floated at different quarters with the backing of your government and its weak-kneed policies. You cannot get it approved by the Parliament. We will never allow to happen anything which would fritter away the sacrifice of our great leader and the founder of Jansangh (currently BJP) Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, who laid down his life against the `Permit Raj’ and for fuller integration of the State with the country. We are here to convey this message through this rally,” she roared while explaining the objective of “Ekta Sankalp Rally” at Parade Ground.
Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani too, in his inimitable eloquent manner, asserted, “Before the sacrifice of Mukherjee, the tricolour could not be unfurled in the state of J&K. This became possible after his sacrifice, but still there are two flags in the state. The other flag (state flag) must go.”
Driving down the memory lane, he recalled as how Mukherjee successfully led the campaign for the full integration of the state with the Union of India with the slogan “Ek Desh Mein Do Nishan, Do Vidhaan, Do Pradhan Nahin Chalengay, Nahin Chalengay.” “He entered the state as prisoner challenging the Permit Raj, but never returned. His sacrifice delineates the emotional relationship of the BJP with the state of J&K, its people, who have a place in our heart. We lost our founder for the integration of the state with India, we cannot allow anyone to reverse the clock. Even after his sacrifice, there is still lot to be done for full integration of the state which still enjoys separate flag and separate Constitution. The struggle initiated by our founder would continue,” Mr Advani said.
“In 1947, I came as a refugee from Karachi, my birth place. My family moved to Gujarat. At times I think, had we moved to J&K, what would have been our fate? Isn’t it an irony that those migrated to this state from west Pakistan, still don’t have the citizenship rights,” he added.