Pointing out that people of Jammu and Kashmir refused to accept the two nation theory propounded by Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah and went with “big country” India in 1947, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Saturday asserted that the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir in the Constitution of India should be maintained.
The chief minister also said that Kashmiris will be the biggest beneficiary if India and Pakistan go for a dialogue to achieve reconciliation.
“Be it the PDP, National Conference, Congress or other regional outfits, they want that Jammu and Kashmir should get the (special) status and identity within the Constitution of the country,” Sayeed said in his Independence Day address at Bakshi Stadium here today.
He said the people of the state had refused to accept the two-nation theory propounded by Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah and went with the “big country” India in 1947.
“I want to say that the two-nation theory of Mohammad Ali Jinnah was not adopted by the people of Jammu and Kashmir even before Independence. We had our own stand which was reflected in the 1938 convention at Sopore in which the Muslim Conference was converted into the National Conference,” he said, adding that during the struggle for Independence, the Congress and Muslim League had separate visions but the leadership and people of Jammu and Kashmir had their own stand on the post-Independence scenario.
“The Congress leadership stood shoulder to shoulder in our freedom struggle against the aristocracy and imperialist forces. Resultantly, the people of the state and its leadership decided to go with the bigger country India in 1947,” he said.
The chief minister mentioned India’s path of progress over the past 70 years and said Pakistan was still “fighting a fight for political existence”.
“Today we can see how democracy is flourishing in India for the past 70 years, how Indian economy is growing and how the institutions are functioning.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelBut Pakistanis are still fighting a battle for their political existence,” he said.
Mufti highlighted the role played by opposition National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in putting the state on the track of development.
“In 1975, late Shiekh Mohammad Abdullah, accepting the ground reality, again took the reins of the state to put it on the track of development like rest of the country,” he said.
Sayeed said the opening of routes across Line of Control for travel and trade between 2002 and 2008 was his biggest achievement as Chief Minister.
“But we want this initiative not to remain limited to divided families and be extended for other purposes like pilgrim tourism as well. "We are committed to strengthening trade and people-to-people contact across the borders," he said.
He also spoke of peace and development in the Jammu and Kashmir. “Won’t rest till I make J&K abode of peace, progress, amity,” he said.
Earlier, the Chief Minister unfurled the National Flag and took salute at the march past presented by the contingents of J&K Police, CRPF, Fire & Emergency Services, Home Guard, BSF,SSB, Forest Protection Force, ITBP, SDRF,NCC and School Children. He also inspected the guard of Honor presented to him on the occasion.
The artists of Cultural Academy, Information Department and various schools presented a color full bonanza of cultural items and police personnel presented various acrobatic activities on bikes.
Begum Mufti Sayeed, Chairman Legislative Council, Haji Inayat Ali, Former Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, Ministers of State, Mohammad Ashraf Mir and Asiya Naqash, Member Parliament, Mehbooba Mufti, Chief Secretary Iqbal Khandey, DGP K Rajendra Kumar other dignitaries, officers and large number of people were also present.
This was Mufti first Independence Day function as Chief Minister after taking power in March.