JAMMU, June 17: Former Sadar-e-Riyasat and Union Minister Dr Karan Singh today called for restoration of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir as early as possible,
He raised the demand at two functions addressed today including the one organized at Hari Niwas on 200th Raj Tilak celebrations of Maharaja Gulab Singh and another at Jammu University during national seminar on ‘Life and Legacy of Maharaja Gulab Singh’.
“I have a complaint. The word Lieutenant should not be there in the designation of Manoj Sinha,” Dr Karan Singh said.
In a Union Territory, there is a Lieutenant Governor while the States have Governor.
“Dogra rulers especially Maharaja Gulab Singh played a major role in extending India’s boundaries to China and Russia but the historians didn’t do justice with him,” Dr Karan Singh said.
“Jammu Kashmir was biggest State in India and today we have been not only reduced even less than Haryana and Himachal but also stripped off our Statehood and turned into a Union Territory, which is not appreciable,” he said, while talking to media persons on the sidelines of concluding function of a three-day national seminar on ‘Life and Legacy of Maharaja Gulab Singh’ at Jammu University today.
The seminar was organised by the Department of History, University of Jammu in collaboration with Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), Jammu Kashmir Study Centre and Maharaja Gulab Singh Research Centre.
Dr Karan Singh was the chief guest during the valedictory function. Speaking on the occasion, he threw light on the Raj Tilak ceremony of Maharaja Gulab Singh by Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh on June 17, 1822 at Jia Pota in Akhnoor.
He also focused on the consolidation of this region by Maharaja Gulab Singh and the hardships and sacrifices made by the Dogras of the region.
“Maharaja Gulab Singh and his Army faced great hardships in Gilgit, Baltistan and Ladakh region, but they were firm with their vision in consolidating this region,” Dr Karan Singh said and appreciated the first five Maharajas starting with Maharaja Gulab Singh and how they consolidated this whole region and their contribution in making the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr Karan Singh further suggested that a seminar on General Zorawar Singh, whose contribution has been neglected to some extent, should also be organized.
Earlier, Prof Suman Jamwal presented opening remarks of the session while report of the Seminar was presented by Prof Shyam Narayan Lal who revisited the history of Maharaja Gulab Singh and how the Treaty of Amritsar needs to be studied by understanding the contemporary circumstances and how they shaped the formation of the modern state of J&K.
