HVK Archives: Truth on Article 370 - a letter by Jaywantiben Mehta, MP.
Truth on Article 370 - a letter by Jaywantiben Mehta, MP. - Indian Express
Posted By ashok (ashokvc@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in)
Sun, 16 Jun 96 22:53:02 PDT
The original article is being posted tomorrow. This let-
ter is signed by Smt Jaywantiben Mehta, the BJP MP from
Mumbai South, where she defeated the sitting Congress MP
and the President of the Mumbai Congress, Shri Murli Deo-
ra in the recent elections.
June 16, 1996
Sir,
This has reference to "Gadgil demands a discussion
on secularism in party" (June 16), by Shri Ambrish Mi-
shra. Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has already welcomed the
move for this discussion, and a public debate will easily
establish that what has been practiced so far is pseudo-
secularism. This has also been clearly established in
both the debates on the confidence motions in the Lok
Sabha.
Shri V N Gadgil has mentioned that the founder of
the Bharaitya Jana Sangh (the predecessor to the BJP),
Shri Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was a member of the cabinet
which approved Article 370 of the Constitution. This is
entirely correct. It is also a fact that Shri Shyama
Prasadji resigned from the cabinet because of the way
Jawaharlal Nehru was handling the Kashmir affair the
seeds to the present day problems were being laid. It is
also a fact that the affairs of Kashmir were handled by
the External Affairs Ministry, and not the Home Ministry
which handled all the other states. The reason for this
was that Sardar Vallabhai Patel was the Home Minister.
It is also a fact that the title of Article 370 is "Tem-
porary Provisions with respect to Jammu & Kashmir", and
so Shri Gadgil must inform the people what this temporary
means. It is also a fact that on Nov 27, 1963, Jawahar-
lal Nehru said in the Lok Sabha, "Vakya yeh hai usme koi
bahut zyaadaa jaan rahi nahin hai (the reality is that
there is not much life left in it)....."
When truth is perverted, debates become irrational,
and tensions are created in the society. Namaste.
Yours sincerely,
(Jaywantiben Mehta)
The Editor,
The Sunday Times of India,
Times of India Building,
Dadabhoi Naoroji Road,
Mumbai 400 001.
P.S.: Shri Arun Shourie in his book "A Secular Agenda"
(pp 141-200) has dealt with the issue in detail.
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