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| February 6, 1954: Constituent Assembly ratifies accession | | |
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Feb 5: “Let us withdraw the Indian army for five days and see whom this house represents.” This was stated by Abdul Gani Goni while opposing a motion moved for ratification of Jammu Kashmir’s accession to Indian union on February 6, 1954. However, ignoring Goni’s tirade, the house ratified the accession amid thundering applause. Goni walked out only to evoke a sarcastic statement from fellow members. “He is going to Pakistan”, they said.
The members of the Constituent Assembly discussed the reports submitted by the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights and Citizenship and Basic Principles Committee for several days. Members delivered fiery speeches in favour of the report the only exception being Abdul Gani Goni who wanted to incorporate his note of dissent in the report.
Portions of Goni’s speeches merit special mention here. After presenting his note of dissent, Goni in response to a comment made by a member said the reports presented in the house not only are against the principles of New Kashmir but they also smack of Indian imperialist mentality. We are handing everything to the Indian union.” (SIC, JK Constituent Assembly Official report, Vol 1, page 739).
Goni also reminded the house of the speech of the head of Indian delegation in UN, BN Rau who while addressing the Security Council on March 29, 1951 said: “Some of the members of the Security Council fear lest the Constituent Assembly of Kashmir may give its opinion on the accession question. If the assembly wishes to give its opinion on this subject, it can do so, but this opinion of the assembly can neither be a binding on government of India nor can it be a binding on the Security Council ….”
Goni’s long speech, made no difference. At one point of time he said: “It seems the members are here to nod their heads only.”
The house was adjourned after adapting the motion. And when it met on February 13, Raja Muhammad Afzal Khan urged the house to include February 6 in the list of public holidays as Naya Kashmir day. Ghulam Hasan Khan and Ghulam Nabi Hamdani seconded it. However, Bakshi Ghulam Muhammad said the Naya Kashmir day can be better celebrated on the day when the state constitution comes into force.
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