Jammu & Kashmir Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) paid warm tributes to Maharaja Hari Singh ji on his birth anniversary in separate functions across the length and breadth of Jammu & Kashmir.
Main programme to pay Shradhanjali to Maharaja Hari Singh Ji, the last ruler of princely state J&K having borders from Tibet to Lahore was organized by BJYM at Maharaja Hari Singh Ji Park, where J&K BJP President Ravinder Raina, former Dy. CM Kavinder Gupta, Vice-President Yudhvir Sethi, BJYM President Arun Jamwal and other senior leaders of BJP and BJYM paid floral tributes on the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh ji.
Ravinder Raina said that Let us recall that it was due to Maharaja Hari Singh ji that Jammu And Kashmir State became a part of India when he signed the instrument of accession on October 26, 1947. Apart from that, he was a progressive and a far-sighted ruler who instituted many social and economic reforms for the welfare of the people. He said that Maharaja was a social reformer who worked for women education and upliftment of weaker sections of the society. He said in order to abolish untouchability, Maharaja Hari Singh allowed the entry of Scheduled Castes in the temples. He stopped the rampant practice of child marriage and promoted widow remarriage. We the people of J&K will forever be indebted to Maharaja Hari Singh Ji, he added.
Kavinder Gupta stated that contribution of Maharaja towards the State of J&K will always be remembered and he will be remembered as a man of sheer will and determination with a progressive policies for its citizens. Abrogation of draconian articles 370 and 35A which hindered the total integration of J&K in India is a perfect tribute to the Maharaja.
Arundev said, “Maharaja Hari Singh, a Hindu king who ruled over a Muslim majority state is how he is often limitedly described, but it is only right in the context of current events to see how he rose above the communal stereotyping and stood by his words: “Justice is my religion” – his first statement after assuming the high office in 1925. A man who did not discriminate between his Hindu and Muslim subjects. Indifferent to the opinions of his fellow co-religionists, he gave importance only to meritocracy and appointed the best of Muslims in his court, administration and the arm.
Others who were present on the occasion were Kapil chib, Hari om Sharma, Abhishek Slathia, Shrey Sethi, pretty Choudhary and many others.
BJP also paid floral tributes on the portrait of Maharaja Hari Singh ji at party headquarter, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu.
J&K BJP Additional Publicity Secretary and District incharge RS Pura Ayodhya Gupta alongwith BJP Media Incharge Dr. Pardeep Mahotra also organized a programme at Talab Tillo Jammu to pay tributes to the great Maharaja. Bablu Chand, Rajesh Sharma, Vivek Rajput, Sonu Kumar were also present on the occasion.
Similarly, the small programmes with restricted gatherings were organized at the booth level by the BJP leaders across the Jammu and Kashmir.