The so-called accession of Jammu & Kashmir in 1947Â viewed as a blatant deception against the people of Kashmir. The so-called instrument of accession, when placed in the context of historical events, fails to pass the truth test. Indian leaders and intellectuals have been trying to mask this fraud perpetrated on October 26, 1947. In August 1947, Gandhi visited Srinagar and met with the Maharaja. Following this, the Maharaja’s forces initiated a violent crackdown, prompting Kashmiris to rise in revolt. On September 19, 1947, Mahajan conferred with Sardar Patel, and soon after, on October 10, he received an urgent summons from Patel advising him to proceed immediately to Kashmir. He assumed his duties on October 15, 1947, replacing Ramchandra Kak, who was perceived as pro-Pakistan. Sheikh Abdullah, released from jail under the condition of supporting India, was offered leadership of the Emergency Government in Kashmir. This episode is mentioned in a disputed letter attributed to the Maharaja. Sheikh Abdullah subsequently traveled to Delhi and stayed with Nehru , Hari Singh, the Maharaja of Kashmir, had entered into a Stand Still Agreement with Pakistan, which India had rejected because it could have hindered India’s plans to intervene in Kashmir. On October 18, 1947, Guru Golwaker, the RSS Chief, visited Srinagar and reportedly exerted pressure on the Maharaja to accede to India. India conditioned its assistance on Kashmir’s accession, despite various diplomatic maneuvers that had been attempted unsuccessfully.
The Maharaja, having observed India’s actions in states like Junagadh, was reluctant to comply with Indian demands. He was cautious due to the precedent set by India’s involvement in other princely states and their subsequent accession to the Indian Union. Sheikh Abdullah was aware of the alleged fraud in the accession process and attempted to use this knowledge to his advantage. However, when he tried to leverage this for his benefit, Nehru imprisoned him for 11 years. Sheikh-Nehru Agreement led to the inclusion of Article 35A in the Indian Constitution in 1954, which was meant to placate Kashmiris this as another layer of deceit and manipulation, violating UN resolutions. India’s invasion of Kashmir, under the guise of a questionable accession, was premeditated. By 25 October, plans were already set to airlift Indian troops into the region. Alastair Lamb’s detailed account of these events remains uncontested by India. Independent analysts like Joseph Korbel, in “Danger in Kashmir,” also cast serious doubts on these documents. The correspondence between the Maharaja and Mountbatten highlights the fraudulent nature of the accession.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah was incensed by these developments. He invited Mountbatten and Nehru for talks in Lahore on 1 November 1947. Although Mountbatten attended, Nehru claimed illness and did not appear, avoiding a direct confrontation with Jinnah. Subsequently, despite initially rejecting the idea, Nehru agreed to refer the issue to the United Nations. In a telegram to Nehru, Liaquat Ali Khan condemned the “fraudulent procurement of the accession of Jammu & Kashmir State” as a hostile act against Pakistan. Throughout November and December 1947, India strengthened its position in Kashmir, only seeking UN intervention on 1 January 1948 after securing enough military presence in the region. Since then, India has been accused of making false promises to the international community. Sheikh Abdullah, aware of the entire deceit, attempted to leverage the situation but was imprisoned by Nehru for 11 years.
Having acknowledged before the UN Security Council that Kashmir’s status was disputed and should be resolved through a plebiscite, India’s enactment of Article 370 was contentious. Article 35A, introduced in 1954 as part of the Sheikh-Nehru Agreement, was meant to placate the Kashmiris. Both provisions’ inclusion in the Indian Constitution violated UN resolutions. Their repeal and the subsequent annexation of Jammu & Kashmir are viewed as acts of aggression against the Kashmiri people and a breach of the UN Charter.
