Jammu, Oct 21 (IANS): Several organisations are planning to organise functions and rallies in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir to celebrate the State's accession to India 63 years ago.
The last Dogra king of Jammu and Kashmir Maharaja Hari Singh had signed the instrument of accession on Oct 26, 1947. The accession was later ratified by the Constituent Assembly of the State in 1956.
The Jammu Province People's Forum (JPPF), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) and several other groups have decided to hold a series of programmes marking the accession day on Oct 26. "We will hold rallies, organize seminars and other public functions to mark the occasion," said JPPF convenor Ramesh Singh.
He told reporters that "this is an historic occasion and we must celebrate it in a big way".
Bhim Singh, chairman of the JKNPP, announced that his party will organize functions across the region Oct 26 to "celebrate the state's accession to India".
"The Maharaja (Hari Singh) had taken a conscious decision of linking the fate of Jammu and Kashmir with India and that's something we all need to celebrate."
The BJP too has started preparations for celebrating the day.
It is for the first time in many years that organisations in the Jammu region have decided to celebrate the accession day in such a big fashion.
