Kashmir Imbroglio

The State of Jammu and Kashmir was one of the native states ruled by a Maharaja who had accepted the paramountcy of the British King. Indian Independence Act that created the Dominions of India and Pakistan by partitioning the British India, also provided for the lapse of paramountcy in regard to all the (over 560) states. The Act empowered the rulers of the native states to merge their states either with India or Pakistan. Maharaja Hari Singh did not take any decision about the future of the State of Jammu and Kashmir till the third week of October 1947. since this state had a Muslim Majority, Pakistan was keen on its accession to the Dominion of Pakistan. India had never accepted the Two-Nation Theory which was the basis of creation of Pakistan. A desperate Pakistan sponsored tribal invasion of Jammu and Kashmir in October 1949. immediately thereafter the Maharaja requested India to accept the accession of Kashmir, and send Indian troops to repel the aggression. India accepted the request but decided to make a reference to the wishes of people later, which was done when the State Constituent Assembly, elected on adult franchise, approved of the accession. But, with mutual consent the State was granted a special status under Article 370 of Indian Constitution. The present book written in a lucid style analyses all the facts pertaining to the State of Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India, but with a special status. The State has been facing Pakistan-sponsored terrorism for over two decades that has killed over 60,000 innocent people, and made lakhs of Hindus displaced persons in their own country. This book will be of great use for all those who are interested in an in-depth study of the question of Kashmir’s status within the Indian Union and the sinister designs of Pakistan in regard to this state.