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A sizeable section of Kashmiris resented this erosion of the provisions relating to the state’s autonomy. On the other hand, Article 370 gave birth to a powerful movement in Jammu region of the state for full accession to India, a greater share for Jammu in government services and even for separation of Jammu from Kashmir. The movement soon acquired communal colours with the danger of the state being divided on religious lines—Kashmir being Muslim majority and Jammu being Hindu majority. The agitation in Jammu was led by Jammu Praja Parishad, which later merged with Jan Sangh, which raised the agitation to all-India level. An unfortunate event was the death of Jan Sangh President Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, due to heart attack in a Srinagar jail, on 23 June 1951. The Politics of Abdullah India’s internal problems in regard to Kashmir began with Sheikh Abdullah, a man of remarkable courage and integrity, having a mass appeal, but who was also autocratic, wayward and arbitrary. Pressed by communal elements in Kashmir Valley demanding merger with Pakistan, Abdullah began to veer towards separation. He even hinted at Kashmir’s independence to be achieved with the help of the US and other foreign powers. He also began to appeal to communal sentiments among Kashmiri Muslims. By the middle of July 1953, Abdullah publicly demanded that Kashmir should become independent. The majority of his colleagues in the cabinet and his party opposed his new political position and asked the Sadr-e-Riyasat to dismiss him on charges of corruption, malpractices and dangerous foreign contacts. Abdullah was consequently dismissed and Bakshi Ghulam Mohammed installed as prime minister. The new government immediately put Abdullah under arrest. He, however, remained a martyr and a hero for many Kashmiris. Nehru got Abdullah released in April 1964. Abdullah, however, continued to claim that Kashmir’s accession to India was not final and that he would fight to secure for the state the right of self-determination. But since he was also against the state’s merger with Paskitan, pro-Pakistani political groups led by Moulavi Farooq and the Awami Action Committee frontally opposed him. Abdullah was put under house arrest and again deprived of his liberty in May 1965. The restrictions on him were removed only in 1968. Bakshi Ghulam Mohammed ruled Jammu and Kashmir with a heavy hand and with large-scale corruption and misuse of patronage and government machinery. He was succeeded by G.M. Sadiq and then by Mir Qasim, were men of integrity but not effective administrators or skilful politicians. The Bangladesh war and the break-up of Pakistan in 1971 had a significant impact on Kashmir, the Pro-Pakistani Awami Action Committee and the secessionist Plebiscite Front suffered a severe political jolt. Abdullah now got into a better frame of mind, did some rethinking and adopted a more conciliatory approach towards the central government. Indira Gandhi, in turn, extended a hand of friendship, lifted all restrictions and opened a dialogue with him. He informally agreed not to raise the question of self-determination or plebiscite and to limit his demands to that of greater autonomy within the Indian union. Finally, in February 1975, he once again became chief minister and the leader of the National Conference. In the July 1977 mid-term poll in the state he won hands down. His son Farooq Abdullah, succeeded him as chief minister, on his death in 1982. |
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