SRINAGAR: Dr Karan Singh, Kashmir’s erstwhile Sadar-e-Riyasat, has strongly asserted that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be considered resolved until a popularly elected government is installed in the region. Reports appearing in the media said the Congress leader emphasised the need for assembly elections to bridge the gap between the administration and the public.
“Till elections are held and a popular government is formed here, I don’t believe that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir has been settled,” Dr Karan Singh told reporters on the sidelines of a national seminar on General Zorawar Singh at Jammu University. He pointed out that in the absence of Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs), the crucial link between the administration and the public has been missing, and it can only be re-established through an elected government.
While acknowledging the performance of the administration, Singh stressed the importance of a government elected by the people, as it would better represent the will and aspirations of the population.
In a subtle political campaign, Singh expressed his views on the necessity of a strong opposition in a democratic system. He suggested that if India’s alliance of opposition parties, referred to as “INDIA,” fields common candidates and takes action, it would be beneficial for the country. “I cannot predict whether they (opposition) will succeed or not, but a strong opposition is good for democracy in the country.”
Singh’s remarks come in the wake of his inclusion in the newly formed executive body of the Jammu Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), announced by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) recently.
During his keynote address at the seminar, Singh alleged that successive governments at the center had been reluctant to involve him in any process for resolving the Jammu and Kashmir issue due to his extensive knowledge of the matter’s historic background. He lamented that despite his significant contributions over his 74-year public life, he had not been able to play a role in resolving the J&K issue, primarily because the Indian government feared he might reveal uncomfortable truths about the situation.
Singh also criticised the narrow focus on the accession of Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting the substantial contributions of the Dogra rulers to the region’s development, including advancements in horticulture, sericulture, healthcare, education, and tourism. He emphasised the need to recognize Maharaja Gulab Singh’s pivotal role in shaping modern India’s northern borders, underscoring that without his efforts, India’s boundaries might not have extended beyond Patnitop.
Singh called for a more comprehensive recognition of the Dogra warriors’ contributions to Indian history and stressed the importance of acknowledging their role in shaping the history of northern India and modern India.
