No one had thought about the construction of Ram Mandir and removal of Article 370: BR Shankaranand

New Delhi: During a book release programme held on February 5 at Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya in Delhi, National Organising Secretary of Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal BR Shankaranand said that no one had thought that Ram Mandir would be built in the country and articles 370 and 35 (A) would be removed. BR Shankaranand said all these things during the launch of the book Beyond 370: Jammu and Kashmir Spreads its Wings. He also said that we must remember the history to build the future. Many books have been written on Jammu and Kashmir, but this book clearly presents the changes that have taken place in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. Jammu Kashmir Study Center has also contributed to removing Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu Kashmir Study Center made efforts to remove Article 370, keeping all the legal aspects in mind.

Reclaiming POJK

Speaking about the present Union Government led by PM Modi, he said that this is the first government that does not take any decisions to gain political mileage. This government has taken significant steps. To take such steps, it is necessary to have willpower and strong determination. Apart from this, while referring to West Bengal, he said that the situation is similar to what it was in Jammu and Kashmir, prior to abrogation of Article 370. BR Shankaranand said it is high time that we review the prevailing situation in West Bengal. He further said that we can consider Jammu and Kashmir complete only when Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir becomes part of India. The people of Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir have also been struggling for a long time to join India.

He opined that in the near future, Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir will become a part of India; along with this, he also added that the government should take concrete steps in this direction. Recalling the struggle to remove Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, BR Shankaranand said that he fought hard for this. He covered the length and breadth of the country by walking and made people aware of this direction. Apart from this, BR Shankaranand said that if Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir became part of India, the country’s people would be even more happy than they were with the construction of Ram Mandir.

Significant achievement

Besides this, Vice Chancellor of Delhi University, Prof Yogesh Singh, said that before today, no one could even think about beyond 370. The situation in Jammu and Kashmir has changed today, and behind this, the founder of Jan Sangh, Syama Prasad Mookerjee, comes to mind. ABVP and many organisations have made substantial efforts in this direction. These organisations fought long to make the country’s people aware of Article 370. These organisations spread many famous slogans nationwide in protest against Article 370.

After removing 370, the feeling of integration has expanded in the country. Many thanks to the country’s Prime Minister, Home Minister and the people, who made this possible because they elected a strong government and sent it to the Parliament. Removing Article 370 is a significant achievement; the government made a big decision in this direction quickly. Hariom Pawar’s famous poem “Bas nazron mein gaate rahiyega kashmir hamara hai. Chhoo kar to dekho him choti ke neeche angaara hai. Delhi apana chehara dekhe dhool hataakar darpan kei. Darabaaron ki tasveeren bhi hai besharam samarpan kee” regarding Article 370 had once drawn everyone’s attention. An attempt was made to set a wrong narrative because of Article 370.

It was said that due to Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir has joined India and has become an integral part of India. But do we say to the rest of the country’s states that they are an integral part of our India? After removing Article 370, the condition of Jammu and Kashmir is changing. People from the tribal community who did not have those rights are now getting rights. The land of Jammu and Kashmir has tried to carry forward the knowledge traditions of India.

In this programme, Dr Guru Prakash Paswan, National Spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party, said that this programme is being organised in the Prime Minister’s Museum; it took a lot of work to even think like this before 2014. Apart from this, he further said that Article 370 was removed constitutionally, and the biggest thing is that people used to say that if Article 370 were removed, there would be riots in the country, but nothing like this happened. Along with this, Paswan also said that after the removal of Article 370, 12 per cent of the tribal community of Jammu and Kashmir has the right to reservation. He also said that only two families ruled Jammu and Kashmir for a long time, but now, people’s rule has been established in Jammu and Kashmir.

The author of the book, Prof Vijita Singh Aggarwal, said that she used to see slogans related to removing Article 370 in her childhood. She further said in this book, she has tried to compile developmental programmes that have taken place in Jammu and Kashmir after the removal of Article 370. She said she has travelled to many remote locations in Jammu and Kashmir to know the reality of the situation. This book can be an essential document for understanding the current situation of Jammu and Kashmir. Prabhat Prakashan published this book. Director of Prabhat Prakashan Prabhat Kumar said this book speaks about the present situation of Jammu and Kashmir. This book will be helpful for University and College students. In this programme, more than 600 people were gathered from different backgrounds.