Jammu, Oct 26: Former Deputy Chief Minister of J&K and senior BJP leader Kavinder Gupta on Thursday said that it was the BJP government that ensured a holiday on Accession Day while cancelling the holiday previously observed on July 13 in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking at Tawi Bridge, where a statue of Maharaja Hari Singh has been installed, Gupta said, “The BJP government made sure there is a holiday on Accession Day and on Maharaja Hari Singh’s birthday. We are indebted to him for making J&K an integral part of India.”
The Bharatiya Janata Party celebrated Accession Day across the Union Territory with fervour. The main event took place at Maharaja Hari Singh Park in Jammu City, where senior BJP leaders and party workers gathered, hoisting the tricolour and celebrating the day as a festival.
The Mahila Morcha of the BJP, along with party leaders, lit candles at Tawi Bridge, and chanted slogans like “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “Maharaja Hari Singh Amar Rahein.”
Addressing the crowd at Hari Singh Park, BJP J&K President Ravinder Raina spoke about the historical significance of October 26, akin to August 15 for every resident of J&K. He highlighted the unwavering commitment of Maharaja Hari Singh to a united and secular J&K, saying that the late ruler served all sections of society but was unfortunately denied entry into J&K by Congress.
Raina also criticised the mishandling of J&K’s affairs by the first Prime Minister, Pt. Nehru, after taking control from Sardar Patel. “While the Indian army had ousted Pakistan from parts of J&K on October 27, Nehru’s unilateral ceasefire allowed Pakistan to control territories that belonged to India,” he said.
The BJP J&K chief expressed hope in the unity of J&K, saying that people in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) hoisting the Indian flag indicated their aspiration to reunite with India in the future.
