Dr.Karan Singh Speaks

In a front page interview with the Hindi daily Amar Ujala, the senior Congress leader, Parliamentarian and former Sadr-e-Riyasat of Jammu and Kashmir Dr.Karan Singh has given vent to his feelings and opinions on the present situation prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir after the neutralisation of Article 370 and 35 A. Besides this he has also given his opinion on the emerging political situation in the rest of India. Dr.Karan Singh has spent nearly 75 years in the public life and was at the helm of affairs in Jammu and Kashmir when the erstwhile princely state acceded to India after signing the Instrument of Accession by Maharaja Hari Singh, his father. It was an era of transition when the monarchy was making way for democracy and Jammu and Kashmir joined the national mainstream. He has been witness to many events in the constitutional and political history of Jammu and Kashmir both as the regent and then as the Parliamentarian. He has been contributing in various spheres of national life in different capacities. What makes him different from other royal dynasts is that he has been the seeker of knowledge in spite of being active in national politics. His writings in terms of his books and articles regarding the spiritual, philosophical and civilizational issues makes him stand out as the philosopher of great merit and scholarship.He has underlined in this interview that after the neutralisation of Article 370 there has been a considerable improvement in the management of the issues in Jammu and Kashmir. In this interview he has said that his ancestors were instrumental in the establishment of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir and now there is a different situation on ground but at the same time he has said that the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir should be restored. Speaking on the issue of reclaiming the Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK),he has underlined that it cannot be taken back without assertion. In this case he has said that it is a well known fact that Pakistan is running terrorist camps from the POJK areas and we should not be afraid to assert. Being witness to the conflict between India and Pakistan on Jammu and Kashmir, he has shared an important account regarding the Pakistan defeat after the creation of Bangladesh in 1971.He has said that the then Pakistani President, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had pleaded with the then Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi; Parmeshwar Narain Haksar, to save him. Infact, he had asked for a bailout so that he could sell the agreement in Pakistan. Dr.Karan Singh is an acclaimed statesman. His opinion needs to be analysed and decoded. So that the future policies on Jammu and Kashmir are based on the socio-political reality visible on the ground. Cross-border terrorism has been the worst challenge that has devastated lives of the people in Jammu and Kashmir but it is the strength of people that has been able to restore semblance of peace. Besides speaking on Jammu and Kashmir, Dr.Karan Singh has shed light on what went wrong when his name had been suggested for the President of India. Besides this he has underlined the role of Dr.Manmohan Singh,the former Prime Minister in terms of his opinion on his nomination and then its impact on his candidature. On the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, he has said that it is not that bad as compared to the situation in Manipur. He has also expressed concern on the conduct of the parliamentarians and termed it harsh and not up to the parliamentary standards. He has suggested that there should be no controversies and disagreements between the ruling and opposition parties so that the proceedings of the house are conducted in an amicable environment. Besides this he has stressed to maintain the diversity of the nation while referring to the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).Not only that he has said that one nation one election is not an easy job. One thing is clear that the Indian Parliamentary System is going through a lot of changes and in such a situation there is a need to introspect for the parliamentarians. Indian democracy has stood the test of the time. Dr.Karan Singh belongs to the generations of public figures who have been witness to various national challenges; his words of wisdom must be debated to keep democracy healthy.