| Film maker Kapur, ABP News causing affront to self- respect of Dogras of Jammu | | TV show Pradhanmantri | | Neha
JAMMU, July 29: Film director, producer and actor Shekhar Kapur and private news channel, ABP News, have caused an affront to the self-respect of Dogras by denouncing Maharaja Hari Singh as dictator, communal, anti-Kashmiri Muslims and pro-independence. The latest episode of TV show Pradhanmantri, which ABP News telecasted on July 27 and 28 at prime time, i.e., 9 to 10 pm, was nothing but a blistering attack on Maharaja Hari Singh, who could be legitimately described as one of the most progressive rulers India ever produced.
Hari Singh was not just an able administrator and social reformer, but also a great human being who never distinguished between one community and another and dispensed justice to all to the best of his ability and capacity. Just look at what he did in the state between 1925 and 1947 and you will say that indeed Hari Singh was a great leader, notwithstanding the fact that there was a kind of local oligarchy in the state. He reformed his administration. He empowered the people, irrespective of their caste, colour and creed and brought all sections of society under the rule of law or by introducing a system of criminal justice that treated all the communities and persons equally. He transformed the system to the extent that he associated people belonging to all sections and all regions with his administration. Not only this, he also established a full-fledged High Court, Praja Sabha or legislative assembly and Board of judicial advisors. As a matter of fact, he completely transformed the state polity.
In fact, Maharaja Hari Singh could be compared with any progressive ruler of the time. But shameless Shekhar Kapur and the channel distorted facts to please a particular community and create an impression the world over that while Hari Singh was a rogue, communal and separatist, Sheikh Abdullah of National Conference a secularist of secularists, nationalist to the core, anti-Pakistan and pro-minorities. It is universally known that he and his party also worked against the national interest, preached and prasticed communalism, ignored the non-Muslim minorities and perpetrated injustice after injustice on Jammu and Ladakh.
Shekhar Kapur and ABP News must withdraw their atrocious show and tender an unconditional apology to the Dogras and the nation. The Jammu-based parties like the BJP, the JKNPP and so on must play their role so that Shekhar Kapur & Co is shown their rightful place. It is important to note that the whole episode only demonized the Dogras and the Dogra Maharaja and present Sheikh Abdullah to the world as the most secular and nationalist leader. Indeed, Shekhar Kapur murdered history to achieve his ulterior design. |
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