Jammu, September 16:
JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla Friday questioned BJP leaders for taking credit over announcement of public holiday on Maharaja Hari Singh birth anniversary and questioned their presence during Yuva Rajput Sabha meeting with Lt Guv Manoj Sinha while remaining mute spectators when leaders of Yuva Rajput Sabha were on hunger strike and faced brutal police lathicharge and when section 144 was imposed over their protest for a genuine cause. Bhalla further said where were these BJP leaders who are now dancing wearing turbans who did not come even for a single day during the movement to support the young Rajput Sabha. He credited Yuva Rajput Sabha, Civil Society and the people of Jammu for forcing J&K Govt to declare holiday on birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh holiday which has been given today. Bhalla said that BJP is only misleading the people of Jammu, if they had to declare holiday, they would have given it long ago when they were in government with PDP. BJP has demoted J&K State into UT into UT by splitting Maharaja Hari Singh’s state into two UTs. Now our next fight is with the Center to take back the statehood of J&K. Bhalla claimed that people of J&K are ready for the next fight to snatch the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir from the BJP which will be a true tribute to Maharaj Hari Singh ji.
Bhalla meantime congratulated people of J&K after J&K Government decided to declare Maharaja Hari Singh’s birth anniversary, September 23 as a public holiday. Welcoming the long pending decision, Bhalla said that the Maharaja’s role and contributions to the freedom movement and his visionary and statesmanship qualities shall always be celebrated and remembered. He highlighted the contribution of Maharaja Hari Singh in socio-political and religious reforms in the erstwhile J&K state during his rule. He also threw light on the diverse facts of his personality and good governance. Bhalla recalled various instances from the distinguished life of the Maharaja and the many reforms made by him as a forward looking ruler for whom the religion was justice to his people. He said that Maharaja’s contribution for strengthening and uplifting the weaker sections of the society, measures for protecting forest and natural resources, creation of wildlife and paying stress on female education are few of reformative measures undertaken by him. He termed him the saviour of J&K, as his timely signing of the instrument of accession integrated state of J&K with India. Bhalla said that Maharaja Hari Singh was known for his high virtues, secular character and his achievements, especially in the field of education and agriculture. He recalled his contribution in modernizing the state governance by establishment of Praja Sabha in the princely states.
