71st Republic Day Celebration across Jammu and Kashmir
71st Republic Day Celebration across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh was unique and
historic, as this was the first Republic Day after Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh were made Union
Territories after withdrawing special status under Article 370 and 35 A on
August 5, 2019.
For the first time separate flag of
Jammu & Kahsmir – was banished with the replacement of our National Flag
throughout the length and breadth of J & K which is the real factor to
indicate that J & K’s special status was completely abolished and J & K
was integrated into India by due process of Law. And hence this 71st Republic Day Celebration was
special to J & K and Ladakh people in
particular.
Lt Governor G C Murmu unfurled the tricolour at the jam-packed Maulana Azad Stadium in the
heart of the city, inspected the parade and took salute at an impressive march
past. He also addressed the function, witnessing cultural and sports programmes by young boys and girls,
and scintillating performance by local police’s daredevils’ motorcycle stunt
team.
An IAF chopper showered flower petals at the start of
the function, which attracted huge applause, while three helicopters flew
overhead at regular intervals during the event.
Patriotic fervour was visible across the city as local residents,
including shopkeepers, were seen hoisting flags in their localities, while
groups of enthusiastic youths, carrying tricolour, went around on their motorcycles and raised slogans in
praise of the country.
Mr. G.C. Murmu told reporters at the end of the function:
“This Republic Day is historic for the people of Jammu
and Kashmir because the dream of our martyrs for ‘Ek Nishan, Ek Vidhan and Pradhan’ (one Constitution,
one flag and one sovereign head) became a reality. Only the national flag
fluttered this time.”
Jammu and Kashmir is akin to a crown for Bharath – but due to various
historic and political expediencies to free Bharath from British Rule, the crown had become a thorn ever
since India achieved freedom. Now after 5th August 2019, Jammu
and Kashmir was at last integrated into the rest of India as Union Terroritory by abrogation of
Article 370 and 35 A – an Impossible Act made possible by Modi Sarkar 2.0.
Kahsmir’s beauties with lades in colorful dresses and famous Kashmir Boat Houses were
all lost for many years due to terrorists and separatists activities raising ‘Azadi’ slogans and
having driven Kashmiri Pundits, the beautiful land had been filled with black purdah women and skull
cap Muslims – not to speak about gun trotting terrorists and stone pelting
misguided local Muslim youths. In that background, the open letter below should
be read.
The Kahsmiri woman’s OPEN LETTER on 71st
Republic Day revealed among other things that “Today, J&K finally
celebrates Republic Day in true spirit!”.
Some important
points are furnished hereunder and for the full text, please click the link in
the previous slide:
v The full integration of Jammu Kashmir with the rest of
India post the abrogation of Article 370 was the bold move of Modi Sarkar 2.0 to annul a
divisive article of the constitution which makes my heart swell with pride
today. I feel vindicated as I, as a state subject of J&K, don’t have to
bother about the dual identity or dual constitution anymore. This duality had
killed the spirit of the constitution in J&K for too long. Glad, it doesn’t
exist anymore!
v J&K Reorganisation Bill was Shah’s
masterstroke in lending a much -needed therapeutic touch to my terror infested
state. The moment when Mr Shah announced the
abrogation of Article 370 that automatically rendered Article 35A useless, and reorganisation of J&K into two
union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, is etched deep in my memory. As soon as I watched him
make these unpredicted announcements one after the other, tears of joy flowed.
It seemed like a dream and I literally had to pinch myself back into reality.
Together, we screamed in joy, hugged one another, distributed sweets and shared
the moment. It was as if a lifetime of prayers was answered.
vHaving moved on from the aftermath of August 5, J&K has
accepted its fate and is happily treading on the path of development. Today, as
India observes its 71st Republic Day, things in J&K aren’t the same
anymore. First time in the history of independent India, J&K (now a Union
Territory) today celebrates the day as a true mark of respect for becoming an
integral part of the Sovereign-Democratic Republic of India.
v True to the spirit of the present day, as we celebrate
this momentous opportunity, I’m compelled to evoke the famous quote by Dr. B.R.
Ambedkar “We’re
Indians. Firstly and Lastly.”
vDr Ambedkar was a visionary
who’d always dreamt of a unified India, one India. Besides, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been
instrumental in his efforts to liberate the people of Jammu and Kashmir from
the chains of terrorism, which has impaired the overall development of the
state a great deal. For years, Article 370 was used as a political shield by
various politicians and political parties within the state and at the centre to
keep its identity afloat.
v Republic Day 2020 is
a flashback of the hard work and dedication of his team to make Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee’s dream of "Ek desh, ek Vidhan, ek nishan and
ek pradhan" - one country,
one constitution, one flag, one head, come true. This slogan was coined by Dr Mukherjee, the BJP ideologue
who had passed away in a Kashmir jail in the year 1952.
v Today as
J&K strides ahead, moving over from the shackles of Article 370 and shuns
the baggage of dual citizenship and a separate constitution, it serves as a
befitting tribute to the far-sighted leaders like Dr Mukherjee and Dr Ambedkar. Oh! How I wish they
were alive today to witness these winds of change blowing in Kashmir!
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