The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday paid tributes to Maharaja Hari Singh on his birth anniversary at the party headquarters in Jawahar Nagar, Srinagar.
BJP J&K General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Koul, J&K Waqf Board Chairperson Dr Darakhshan Andrabi, MLAs, party vice-president Dr Shehnaz Ganie and other senior leaders offered floral tributes to the former ruler.
Addressing the gathering, Koul said Maharaja Hari Singh’s contribution to Jammu and Kashmir would always be remembered. He described him as a ruler known for determination and progressive policies and said his approach to governance went beyond communal considerations.
Referring to Maharaja Hari Singh’s oft-quoted statement, “Justice is my religion,” Koul said the former ruler had sought to uphold equal treatment of his subjects irrespective of their religious background.
Dr Darakhshan Andrabi also highlighted Maharaja Hari Singh’s decision to accede to India, describing it as a decision whose significance, she said, continued to be reflected in Jammu and Kashmir.
She said the Maharaja had decided that the princely state would go with India when the country became independent and argued that the decision had benefited the region.
MLAs Ranbir Singh Pathania and Devyani Singh Rana said Maharaja Hari Singh’s birth anniversary was being observed with pride, describing his legacy in terms of social reforms, education and governance.
They said the former ruler had promoted education for women and underprivileged sections, extended rights of worship to Dalits and initiated reforms associated with local self-governance.
The BJP leaders also highlighted his philosophy that a ruler should rise above religious considerations and that justice should remain the guiding principle of governance.
BJP state secretaries Arif Raja and Mudasir Wani, spokespersons Altaf Thakur, Sahil Bashir and Manzoor Bhat, Media Incharge Advocate Sajid Yousuf Shah, Salinder Singh, Imtiyaz Bhat and other senior party leaders were present on the occasion.
