BJP veteran lK Advani on Sunday raised the pitch for abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, a key demand of the party that has been on the backburner for quite some time now.
As the country observed 60th death anniversary of Bharatiya Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Advani wrote in his blog, “The country eagerly awaits the day when Article 370 would be repealed and the two Vidhans (Constitution) also would become one.”
At the Jan Sangh conclave in 1953, Mookerjee had given a slogan — ek desh mein do pradhan, do nishan, do vidhan, nahin chalenge, nahin chalenge (Ours is one country: we can’t have here two Presidents, two Flags, and two Constitutions) — for complete integration of J&K with India.
Mookerjee died under mysterious circumstances after he was arrested by the J&K Police for entering the State without a permit, which was required then. In his blog titled ‘Independent India’s First Martyr for National Integration’, Advani said Mookerjee’s death in controversial circumstances triggered a series of developments which significantly promoted the process of national integration.
The permit system, which the then J&K Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah had introduced for non-State residents wishing to enter the State, was scrapped and State’s PM became a Chief Minister like the head of any other State.
Two pradhans (heads) became one, and though two nishans (symbols) continue still, the National Tricolour started flying in the state in a superior position, Advani wrote in the blog, giving credit to Mookerjee for extending the reach of the Supreme Court to the State.
Until Mookerjee’s demise neither the Supreme Court, nor Election Commission nor Comptroller and Auditor General had jurisdiction over Jammu & Kashmir, he said.
“Dr Mookerjee’s martyrdom brought about a change in this situation. Sheikh Abdullah became Chief Minister, Sadar-e-Riyasat became Governor, and the President and PM’s formal authority got extended to J&K,” he said.
Wondering why no formal inquiry was instituted into Mookerjee’s death, Advani blogged, “The death of this titan remains a mystery till today.” “In other similar situations, a formal inquiry has almost invariably been instituted but not in this case. One cannot say whether it was just criminal insensitivity, or actually a feeling of guilt!” he said.