{"id":347932,"date":"2019-03-28T10:00:04","date_gmt":"2019-03-28T04:30:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-256057-797351.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=347932"},"modified":"2019-03-29T18:41:12","modified_gmt":"2019-03-29T13:11:12","slug":"the-real-story-of-kashmir","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyjag.com\/politics\/the-real-story-of-kashmir\/","title":{"rendered":"The Real Story Of Kashmir"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Kashmir has long been the apple of discord between India and Pakistan. The decade long conflict has polarised Indian households too. While some declare Kashmir a terror state and demand punishment for every Kashmiri, some call out the atrocities of Indian armed force in the valley as the reasons of insurgencies. But if we are to look closely, both the groups are at the extremes of the same spectrum that kept the Kashmir issue alive for so long. But to understand the perspective of Kashmiris, you need to step in the shoe of one, look at things in the light of their experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this first part of this article, let me take you through the formative years of two sibling rivals, India and Pakistan and the timelines of the crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jammu and Kashmir came into existence as a princely state with the signing of the Second Treaty of Amritsar between the British East India company and Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu. When the Sikhs failed to pay part of the demand made by the British as per the Treaty of Lahore, Gulab Singh paid East India Company on their behalf. In return, the Sikhs gifted him Kashmir Valley, part of their territories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Political Boiling Pot (1846 – 1947)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The foundation of \u201cAll Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference\u201d by Sheikh Abdullah in 1932 in collaboration with Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas, could be cited as the foreshadowing of Kashmir conflict. In May 1938, the second election for the princely state’s Legislative Assembly was held. The Muslim Conference won all 19 contested seats. Under Sheikh Abdullah’s leadership, the Muslim Conference changed its name to National Conference and opened membership to people of all religions. Soon, on March 23, 1940, the Pakistan Resolution was passed at Iqbal Park, Lahore. The resolution demanded the establishment of an independent state comprising all Muslim majority regions. Within a year Ghulam Abbas left the National Conference and revived the old Muslim Conference. The Muslim Conference became a supporter of the Jinnah-led Muslim League to the extent that during his 1944 Kashmir visit, Mohammad Ali Jinnah supported the Muslim Conference in preference to the National Conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first crisis (1946-48)<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In May 1946, Sheikh Abdullah launched the \u201cQuit Kashmir\u201d movement against the Maharaja Hari Singh. When Jawaharlal Nehru attempted to go to Kashmir to defend Abdullah in court, he was arrested and forced to leave the state. On the other hand, representatives of the Muslim Conference met Jinnah and were advised to capitalize on the failure of Sheikh Abdullah to unseat the Maharaja. Amidst these internal unrests, the Maharaja declared that Kashmiris would decide their own destiny without any outside interference. The British Resident in Kashmir pointed out that the Maharaja and Prime Minister Ram Chandra Kak intended to stay away from the Indian Union. Additionally, the newspaper \u201cThe British Resident\u201d reported that the “new leaders” of the Muslim Conference, Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas and Agha Shaukat Ali were stirring anti-Hindu sentiments in the guise of Muslim unity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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