Early Times Report
JAMMU, Oct 15: The legendary Dogra leader Pandit Prem Nath Dogra who was the first leader from J&K to raise voice against Article 370 and struggled to ensure total integration of the state with rest of the country after the Maharaja was forced to live in exile and state's administration was taken over by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah who harboured different ideas.
Pandit ji was a great visionary and was quick enough to understand the intent of Sheikh Abdullah and National Conference and dared to make public his apprehensions, stated Brig Anil Gupta, State Spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party. He further added that because of his blind love for the Sheikh, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, then Prime Minister of India did not pay much heed initially to the apprehensions expressed by Pandit Prem Nath Dogra but later had to regret his decision by putting Sheikh Abdullah under arrest.
Resentful of the autocratic behaviour of Sheikh completely ignoring and side lining the other two regions of the state, Pandit ji unitedthe people of Jammu and launched a strong agitation against Abdullah's Government. Raising the slogan of "Ek Vidhan, Ek Pradhan, Ek Nishan" (One Constitution, One President, One Flag), Pandit ji spearheaded the agitation under the banner of Praja Parishad and called for extension of all provisions of the Constitution of India to the State. Pandit Prem Nath Dogra's hatred for divisive Article 370 was universally well known. The Sher-e-Duggar was a strong advocate of complete accession of Jammu & Kashmir with India. Pandit Prem Nath Dogra also led the movement in Jammu which spread later to other parts of North India to preserve the honour of tri-colour in the State of Jammu & Kashmir.
On 24th October, the 135th birthday of the great Dogra leader will be celebrated. Only a week later, the entire nation would be celebrating abrogation of article 370, for which Pandit Prem Nath Dogra struggled throughout his life. It will be a befitting occasion to award the highest national award, Bharat Ratna, to Dogra Kesari Pandit Prem Nath Dogra, appealed Brig Gupta. |
