Kashmir’s Accession to India

Let me be quite clear about Kashmir. There still seems to be a good deal of misunderstanding about Kashmir’s accession to India. The other day, I said in this House that this accession was complete in law and in fact. Some people and some Newspapers, mostly Newspapers abroad, seem to think that it is only something that has happened in the last week or fortnight or three weeks that has made this accession complete. According to my views, this accession was complete in law and in fact in October, 1947. It is patent and no argument is required, because every accession of every State in India was complete on these very terms by September in that year or a little later. All the States acceded in three basic subjects, namely, foreign affairs, communications and defence. Can anybody say that the accession of any State in India was incomplete simply because they acceded in only those three subjects? Of course not. It was the accession of the Jammu and Kashmir State, in law and in fact, by the end of October, 1947. It was not open to doubt and challenge. I am surprised that anybody here or elsewhere in the world should challenge it. I was telling the House that when the first United Nations Commission, accompanied by their legal advisers and other came here, it was open to them to challenge it. But they did not, because it was quite clear to them and to their legal advisers that there could be no question about the legal validity of the accession. The people of Jammu and Kashmir State not only agreed to come to us as they did, but it was at their request that we took them into our large family of States. I do believe that they have the same friendly feelings towards us as the other States have. I believe that on other occasions they have given evidence of this fact. Even in the election of this Constituent Assembly that took place nearly a year ago, they exhibited that feeling of friendship and union with India.

            A short while ago, we met the representatives of the Government of Kashmir and they were not merely the representatives of the Government but undoubtedly the popular leaders of the people of Kashmir. We met them, we talked to them and we discussed many matters with them. We did not go to them in a bargaining spirit of opposition. We discussed matters with them, with a view to solving our intricate problems.

Nehru's speech in the House of People, New Delhi, August 7, 1952

Pakistan must vacate the areas of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir

This House notes with deep concern Pakistan’s role in imparting training to the terrorists in camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, the supply of weapons and funds, assistance in infiltration of trained militants, including foreign mercenaries in to Jammu and Kashmir with the avowed purpose of creating disorder, disharmony and subversion :

Reiterates that the militants trained Pakistan are indulging in murder, loot and other heinous crimes against the people, taking them hostage and creating an atmosphere of terror;

Condemns strongly the continued support and encouragement Pakistan is extending to subversive and terrorist activities in the Indian State of Jammu & Kashmir;

Calls upon Pakistan to stop forthwith its support to terrorism, which is in violation of the Shimla Agreement and the internationally accepted norms of Inter State conduct and is the root cause of tension between the two countries.

Reiterates that the Indian political and democratic structures and the constitution provide for firm guarantees of the promotion and protection of human rights of all its citizens:

Regards Pakistan’s anti- India campaign of calumny and of falsehood as unacceptable and deplorable.

Notes with deep concern the highly provocative statements emanating  form Pakistan  and urges Pakistan to refrain from making statements which vitiate the atmosphere and incite public opinion ;

Expresses regret and concern at the pitiable conditions and violations of human rights and denial of democratic freedoms of the people in those areas of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, which are under the illegal occupation of Pakistan;

On behalf of the people of India:

Firmly declares that-

a ) The state of Jammu & Kashmir has been, is and shall be an integral part of India and any attempts to separate it from the rest of the country will be resisted by all necessary means:

b) India has the will and capacity to firmly counter all designs against its unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity:

and demands that-

c) Pakistan must vacate the areas of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir which, they have occupied through aggression;

and resolves that-

d) All attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of India will be met resolutely.”

The Resolution was unanimously adopted.

Resolution passed in Lok Sabha regarding the state of Jammu and Kashmir on 22 February 1994