‘If separatists want to solve problems they should come for talks'
NL Correspondent
SRINAGAR: After storming a controversy that Jammu and Kashmir's had only acceded to India not merged, senior Congress leader and former Sadr-e-Riyasat of Jammu and Kashmir Dr. Karan Singh Thursday said he could write four books on the mistakes that had been committed on J&K. “A lot of mistakes have been committed. I can even write four books on the mistakes that have been committed on J&K after its accession to India,” Singh told the reporters at his princely residence Karan Mahal Srinagar.
However, he refused to elaborate it further. His remarks coming days after his speech in the Rajya Sabha where he had said that on October 27, 1947, his father had signed accession to India on three subjects-defence, communication and foreign affairs. “Unlike other princely states, J&K did not merge with India.” He has said that J&K's relation with rest of India is guided by Article 370 and the State Constitution “which I signed into a law.”
Karan Singh is on a two day visit to Kashmir is expected to meet various sections of people to get know about the current turmoil in the Valley that broke out on July 9 following killing of Hizb commander Burhan Wani. He said all-party delegation who are scheduled to visit Kashmir on September-4 should meet all stakeholders including the separatists. “It is my personal opinion that talks should be held with everybody who are willing to talk. But are they (separatists) ready for the talks. If they (separatists) said they won't hold any talks then talks are not possible and how is then solution possible” However, he said it has to be decided by the members all party delegation and the Rajnath Singh with whom they will meet and hold talks. “I have come here as I have a different relationship with J&K. I won't be part of the all-party delegation.”
Karan Singh is the son of the last ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh. In 1949, at age of eighteen, he was appointed as the regent of Jammu and Kashmir state after his father stepped down as the ruler, following the state's accession to India. He served successively as regent, the first and last Sadr-i-Riyasat, and governor of the state of Jammu and Kashmir from 1965 to 1967.
In 1967, he resigned as governor of Jammu and Kashmir, and became the youngest-ever member of the union cabinet, holding the portfolios of tourism and civil aviation. Karan Singh also demanded immediate ban on usage of pellet guns in the Valley. He said he had come to the Valley to share grief with the families of those who lost their lives and got injured during the ongoing turmoil in the Valley.
