16
PRIME MINISTER OF KASHMIR


WHEN I ARRIVED from Delhi in Srinagar on the 12th of October. I carried with me a message from Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to His Highness asking him to allow Sheikh Abdulla who had been recently released from custody to visit New Delhi. I duly conveyed this message to the Maharaja who gave the requisite permission but suspected that this visit would result in trouble for him and for me. He said that Panditji had a soft corner for the Sheikh and was very friendly with him, and as the Sheikh’s ambition was to become the Prime Minister of Kashmir, he would take the earliest opportunity to prevail upon Pandit Nehru to put him in power. Once in power he would revive his ‘Quit Kashmir Move’ and become all powerful himself. The Maharaja wanted to keep Sheikh Abdullah within the State after his release and not to permit him to get to Delhi to see the Prime Minister. On my persuasion, the Maharaja agreed to allow the Sheikh to leave the State as and when he desired.

Before leaving Srinagar for New Delhi on the 13th or 14th of October, he and Begum Abdullah sought an interview with His Highness. They were duly received at the palace and were presented to the Maharaja with palace formalities. The Sheikh Sahib had desired an interview with His Highness alone. I had advised him to receive the Sheikh in private but he had insisted on my presence when the Sheikh came for the interview. I was sure that Sheikh Abdulla would resent our presence. He showed his resentment not only in his talk, but also by his somewhat rude behaviour towards me and the Deputy Prime Minister, During the talk he made no secret of his view that it was wholly unnecessary to engage a Prime Minister from outside Kashmir, or to retain a Deputy Prime Minister, also a retired member of the Punjab Provincial Service.

To be continued....

( This account is maintained by Har Anand Publication)